"Psycho," you say?

　Hibigami grinned as he slipped his arm into his cuff and smirked.

'One of the ways to give an opponent a motive to fight is to put the person's loved ones in their hands. Resentment and hatred of having a loved one killed - this emotion is what rarely awakens a person to become a true warrior. As a method, it's a cliché, but as a quick-acting catalyst, it's also, well, a useful tool.

　I don't break the forbidden spell and step forward to protect Currier-san and Cecily-san.
　The promise not to touch the two of them is only a verbal promise.
　There is no guarantee that Hibigami won't go back on that promise on a whim.
　Let's not let our guard down.

But in my case, it's hard to know which way it will go.
I don't know what you're talking about.
Yes, I don't know what I am, Sagara Kurohiko. There are times when you have tremendous strength of will, and other times when you have an uncanny flicker of vulnerability. From my point of view, I am in danger of being destroyed the moment someone I love loses their life.

　Breaking, huh?

On the other hand, he is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect the ones he loves. Sagara Kurohiko is a man who puts the safety of others before his own. That's what I felt when I first met him. Even when I read the forbidden spellbook not long ago, almost without hesitation.

　Hibigami stroked his beard slowly to the side in a tone that seemed to get to the core.

'It's not uncommon for people to put others before themselves. Self-sacrifice is one type of it. There are two kinds of this, however.

　Twice, Hibigami lightly scraped the bottom of his foot on the ground.

'One is when you are actually using the presence of others to enhance your self-worth. At first glance, it appears that you are thinking about others, but in fact you are using them to satisfy your self-absorbed needs. Well, there's nothing wrong with that, not that there's anything wrong with that. It's a natural human need. People love themselves more than anyone else, they value themselves more than anyone else, and they want to be recognized by others - they want approval. That's the kind of creature that puts self above all else.... Just--

　Hibigami's eyes narrowed.

"Very rarely, there are people whose self and others' values are reversed. "It's very rare, but there are those whose self and others are reversed, or shall we say, 'a person who puts everything they have in front of others'.

　I'm sure you'll be pleased to know that they are special.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of it. That's what's interesting to me. It is this overwhelming weakness that sustains this strange strength. Fear is transformed into strength. The more you fear it, the stronger it becomes - what do you call this eerie effect if you don't call it an anomaly?

　...........
　I, I don't know.
　I have no idea what Hibigami is talking about.
　What's going on?
　Why did Hibigami suddenly start talking about something like pseudo-philosophy...?

　That's right, I'm afraid of losing Currier-san and Cecily-san.
　That's why I will do anything to protect them, but........

''To the extent that he is excessively afraid of loss, the person called Sagara Kurohiko could not gain and have not been given anything until then. The fact that the personality thus formed became a factor in turning into strength should be called a miraculous reaction, but... Anyway, that's why I--I don't know if it's unconscious or not, but -- discarding its own room for consideration of right and wrong. I mean.

　Hibigami stared at his toes, which had scraped the ground with one, with a mixture of pleasure.

'It's not about judging good and evil - it's all about whether it's your 'enemy' or not. And it's as if there is no space for noise to enter. This is a disagreeable opponent for someone who wants to play games, regardless of whether they're good or bad... and depending on the situation, there's no room for negotiation.

　As usual, I don't know what he was saying, but I suddenly remembered the words Commander Sogut had uttered during the interview.

It's certainly an interesting man. But at the same time, it's also troublesome. Just like the Four Deadly Sins, it's impossible to negotiate properly.

　........I try to listen to people who I feel are decent, but I try to listen as much as possible.

　Well, maybe what Hibigami is trying to say is that I don't want to lose the relationships with people that I finally got because I was a recluse... so I can work very hard to not lose that. .........
　But then, if that was the case, Hibigami said something like, 'The value of others and myself are reversed,' but in the end, he's doing his best for himself.......?
　Hmm.
　I still don't understand.

I'm sure that if there is someone who sees through your true nature, they will first act to avoid standing on the side of the 'enemy'. Normally, it's extremely dangerous to be considered an 'enemy' by someone with such a ridiculous power. So.........in other words, if you want to destroy Sagara Kurohiko and make him powerless, you should rather become an 'ally',
"Sorry, Hivigami.

　I said, putting a finger to my brow.

"I hardly know what you're talking about,
I don't care if you don't understand it. And besides, the little human analysis is essentially the specialty of Varaga, Kane and Rokia. But--

　Hibigami looked at Cecily with eyes that held emotions that were difficult to read.

I'm not sure that Currier doesn't get it, but it seems to me that what I want to say is clear. I see, I apologize for my past attitude. Thank you for being so quick to understand, Cecily Arkwright.
'After your own analysis of Kurohiko, you have found a weakness that is undesirable to you...........................and you should understand that weakness well 'for your own good'?
Yes. That's why we can't kill them here, and we don't want them to die before the day of their arrival. I don't want my nemesis to be broken by my nemesis over such a trivial matter, but Sagara.

　Unclasping his arms, Hibigami touched the 'no-kill'.

'If there is no sign of you climbing up to where you are supposed to be for a long time you know what I mean, don't you?　All those who are dear to me, I will kill them all.
I told you.

　I spread my wings and put my left arm through the air.

"I'm gonna put you down.

　There was also a hand that could be used to trigger the third forbidden curse by surprise here, but not without.
　However, the fact that he couldn't penetrate Besch Gum's skin diluted his ability to kill with certainty.
　Hence, the uncertainty remains.
　If Hibigami is an opponent equal to or greater than Beschgum, then the third forbidden curse is probably - not a must-kill.
　Hmph, Hibigami sniffed with satisfaction.

'Although I have set a deadline of three years, I am becoming stronger at an unexpected rate. That's why I'm thinking of making the deadline earlier.
I owe you this much. I'm cool with that.
I admire your dedication, but that doesn't mean it's the right time for me to do it, that's for sure. I'm sure you'll still have to eat the power of the curse. I will be stronger and stronger to the limit.

　Hibigami raised his veiny right hand in front of his chest with a wariness that made his skin crawl.

Yes, that's the limit - I want to see the scenery beyond the limit. You can trust me, Sagara, that you will be able to show me that scenery.
I'll go to my limits.
That's the right answer.

　The edge of his mouth twisted and his teeth peeked out as he lost his will to fight.

I'm sure you've not neglected your training by looking at yourself. It's not like I was trying to criticize my environment. I'm sure I've heard someone say something trivial.　I suppose you despise our relationship as a lukewarm game of chums, don't you?
...something like that.
Hmmm... so let me ask you something.
No.
Kaka, then why don't you listen to me?
What?
That's not like you, Sagara. Do you mind?

　Hibigami's mouth arched up and his peaked front teeth slowly floated up.

'After all, an enemy is an enemy. An enemy is just an enemy and nothing else. Therefore, the enemy's words are a kick in the pants no matter what they say. There's no need to see them as an enemy - just a kick. If you continue to grate on my ears, then kill me without hesitation. Kill them without mercy. In other words, the only way to silence an enemy you see as an enemy is to kill it. If you have the power, kill it. Crush it, and seal it up. If the enemy's wonderful voice will remain in the world after death, bring his corpse to the unthinking masses and tell them how hapless they are. Then let the people throw stones at the corpse. And let them throw stones at the corpses, and the enemy will be dead, dead to the last.
Well, you don't have to do that.

　It's flogging a corpse.

"I'm the one who talks the talk. It's up to you what you do with it.

　Returning his expression to a more relaxed one, Hibigami slipped his arms into his sleeves again.

'By the way, Currier,'

　Hibigami called out to Currier-san, who didn't lose his gruff expression.

From the way you're dressed, I'd say you've had it with the Four Deadly Sins.
"...Yeah. The one that came to the castle was taken care of by me and Rokia. That means the four deadly plagues that came to King's Landing have all been defeated.

　Hibigami's eyebrows twitched.
　The part that moved was not the part that Currier-san had mentioned, the Four Deadly Disasters.
　It was the part that said, "Rokia,

'Huh, so the other six houses in King's Landing were that man.
Oh.

　Mr. Currier gave me a look that said, "Shit.

'Hmm?　What's wrong?

　Currier-san answered Hibigami's question awkwardly.

''Hmm........I figured since Rokia helped me out this time, maybe I shouldn't have mentioned her name. You're definitely going to get involved, right?
Kaka, I know. That was a gaffe, Currier. But still, I didn't know that you and I had to deal with the Four Deadly Plagues I thought you and Rokia weren't a good match for each other.
No, we're not a good match.

　Then Currier-san made a face as if to say that this was the time to do so.

''And ... it's not just Rokia that's in this royal capital right now. Here--Noyes is here too.
Oh, that's right, noise.

　Hibigami lets out an amused smile as he chuckles.

Oh, right, that's the woman who spread the information about the Sixth House...I thought there were some eccentricities, but yes, there is that woman. So, that woman set up the 'stage' here, and so on. Kaka, I thought that when Currier Versteen was there, she would be there too, but she was the organizer. Oh, so you're following the noise to the capital?

　Mr. Currier paused for a moment, then affirmed.

'Oh,'
'It's a hard thing to do when you're that woman's favourite. You don't like it when she puts you on the stage. But I don't think she likes me very much.
There's nobody in the sixth house who'd be happy with you.
Kaka, I don't like you. But Noyes has a habit of avoiding me in particular. She says I'm an abomination who destroys the play, and as soon as I'm on stage, the play becomes all about me. That doesn't bother that woman. I still don't know what that means.

　Hibigami seems to know about the noise, too.
　Currier-san said absentmindedly.

''Hey, Hibigami do you think it was Noise that brought the Four Evils to King's Landing?
I don't think she could do it. Just so you know........the Four Deadly Disasters were unexpectedly wiped out. But, Currier, this spectacular act with the four evildoers on stage may be a bit much for Noise.
What do you mean?
"So to speak, the complete opposite of Sagara... that woman who sees all others as nothing more than a stage set for her own self-direction - in order to discipline herself, she gave herself the name of a commandment to become 'formless', and she was the one who gave the name of the 'formless' to herself. Do you think a woman can hold out for any more 'appearances'?
''I don't know. I haven't always known what Noyes is thinking. Or why he's so obsessed with me.

　Hibigami turned his head in a circle as if he had a sweeping view of the royal city.

'From what I've read, she's already reached the point where she can't wait to get on stage. As expected of an actor, the four wrongs were too much of a deal breaker. There, my beloved Currier, and now Rokia. I can't think of any more - I can't think of a performance that needs to be done before the final act, even if it is noise.
You mean he's going to try to do it.
However, I don't come out of a play ignoring the 'flow' of the play. To him, however, the play is a sublime ritual that is irreplaceable. Therefore, the noise should be seen as wanting to be dragged out. The noise that was "that woman's" favorite, is here? Well, the thing I like about Noyes Deece is that he always puts himself in the role of the bad guy. I have no desire for others to like me at all.

　Hibigami puts his finger on the 'no kill'.

The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that it's a very good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. It looks like I have a few more reasons to stay here.
Hey, Hibigami.
Hmm?　What's going on?

　It was me who called out to him.

"You're not going to fight me here. I won't hurt you or Miss Currier or Cecily. Is that right?
Well yes. What's the matter with that?
Okay. Thank you.

　Oh, good.
　Now - at long last - the forbidden curse can be broken.

Kurohiko what's going on?

　Cecily's expression is unexpectedly clouded.
　She seems to have guessed something.

'Sorry Cecily-san, I might not be able to move for a while. I feel like I'd like to at least fly over and solve it when I get to the school, but I don't want to use the power of the forbidden curse any longer as much as possible.

　Miss Currier gasped.

'Well, my dear--'

　Oh, that's right.
　Come to think of it, I remember telling Currier-san after he fought the giants at the Holy Ruins.

''Yes. Probably because the load of using the forbidden spell is quite a bit of work.

　Yes.
　This was the reason why he hadn't broken the forbidden spell all along.
　Unlike the third forbidding spell, which is loaded on the spot, the second realm of the eighth forbidding spell, which transforms the left arm into a deformed form, is loaded with the load accumulated right after the forbidding spell is lifted, all at once.
　And I feel that the fifth forbidden curse, which makes wings grow, is also loaded with the same feeling.
　I thought that if I broke the forbidden spell right after the Beshgam and got stuck under that load, I wouldn't be able to help Currier-san and the others.
　Even in terms of time and the degree of use of power, it's an order of magnitude greater than that magma giant.
　Then the load should be an order of magnitude greater.
　That's why I didn't break the forbidden spell.
　I tried to break it once when I defeated Masso and heard from Currier-san that the threat of the Four Deadly Disasters had already passed.
　However, when Hibigami appeared there, he was unable to solve it in case he had to.
　However, Hibigami doesn't seem to have any intention of harming Currier and the others.
　Well, it seems safe to assume that he doesn't really intend to mess with them, since he was somehow explaining for some long time what seems to be the reason why he can't mess with them.

The best way to do that is to have a good time with your friends.
I'm sorry. I should have seen it sooner.
Don't look at me like that. I'm fine.
"Kurohiko.

　Cecily-san, who called out that, was biting her lip tightly.

''That phrase about not 'only' intending to die no matter what, that's what you meant.......I'm sorry, even though I didn't know about the load of the forbidden curse, I didn't realize the discomfort at that time. .........I knew you were--

　After grabbing my arm tightly and biting her teeth, Cecily shook her head as if to shake something off and moved closer to me.

'But I trust you. You're going to be fine. I'm sure Sagara Kurohiko will be fine.
Yeah.

　I smiled at him.

'Of course.'

　Well, then.
　I guess we better break the curse.

"Eighth incantation the second realm is closed...

　A creaking pain runs through my left arm.
　That pain begins to invade your entire body.

".........the fifth forbidden curse, the closing of the--

　A dull, heavy pain occurs in my back.
　Like a flock of snakes, it runs through my body.



　Sweat breaks out and breathing becomes difficult.
　The pain, growing.



　I peel my eyes away and look up to the heavens and scream in too much pain.
　Bubbles leak out of the gaps between my clenched teeth.
　A sound like the breaking of a thick tree branch rumbles through my entire body with a beeping sound.

''--I'll kill you if you die, Sagara.

　I heard the voice of Hibigami.

It's not going to take much more than this for me to die.　G--god!　Gah, gah, gah, gah, gah, gah, gah...


　Which came first, the blue sky disappearing from view or the fact that I couldn't hear Currier-san and Cecily-san's voices calling out to me...which came first?



　　　　　　　　　　*.



　I was in a dense, dark place.

　His consciousness was muddled.
　It was strange.
　I wasn't sure if I was present in this place or not.
　It was a strange sensation, as if I had walked into someone else's consciousness.

　Vaguely, I thought I saw a person.

　The whole body was bandaged - no, there was some kind of bandage with some kind of writing on it.
　Rather than a bandage, it looked more like a spell.

　Faintly, a voice reached my ears.

I'm sorry that you've gone crazy because of this.

　Are you talking to something?
　No, it's more like that voice ... the Forbidden King?
　So that's the Forbidden King then?

　At that time, a liquid that looked like coal tar leaked out of the gaps in the spellbook wrapped around the forbidden king's body with a thud.
　Even in this darkness, I was able to recognize it strangely.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to find a way to make it work.
　Beyond that--

　There was a black beast.

　How should I describe it?

　I can't see its size because I can't see its entire body.
　Its shape was also indistinct.
　Only the eyes were red.

　The beast is black, miserable, just black--

　And then I notice a black chain wrapped around the beast.
　What is it?
　It's like the ninth curse.

Shut the f*ck up.

　The forbidding king said to someone else.
　But I don't think he was shooting at me.

We're grateful to you, sisters, for your silly talk. But once they start showing me what they're capable of in a fight like that I'm going to end up rooting for them.

　The forbidden king looked down and continued in a sincere tone.

I'm grateful to you guys...but not him. It's not him, it's not me, it's not Kurohiko Sagura. I just decided to do it.

　The Cursed King looked at the black beast.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry so you'll have to stay with me for a little while longer.

　The black beast's eyes narrowed like a thread.
　The thing in its eyes was a quiet yet stabbing murderous intent.
　It was a pure, bestial killing intent that made one cower.
　An ominous low roar that seemed to echo from the depths of hell leaked out from behind the beast's teeth.

　The Forbidden King slumped his shoulders.

''I can't stop........I can't stop. Whether you're a god or a beast, a man or a woman, you can't keep up. Do you think so too?

　The Forbidden King turned his jaw and looked up at the black beast again.


''Forbidden Beast Yo.''


　Dream or reality...


　That was the end of the dark scene I saw.