A girl beloved by God was hailed as a genius.

　So Cecily Arkwright had to be.
　They say that she could do anything, but of course she didn't start out with everything.

　At first, she wanted to catch up with her great grandfather and brother.
　And as I worked to catch up with them, I found myself being called a genius.
　Before I knew it, no matter what I did, no matter what I tried, the only thing they said to me was 《Cecily Arkwright, you're a genius》.
　There was hardly anyone left to praise me for my hard work.

　Of course you can do it, of course you can do it.
　Of course you can do it.

　The next task was to be perfect.
　To continue to be the perfect Cecily Arkwright.

　The famous Arkwright family.
　In order to keep the family name unblemished, I aimed for the perfect Cecily Arkwright.
　I created it.
　Always be a girl who shines like a jewel.
　You have become.
　A jewel.

　And from there, I was determined to keep at it.
　You mustn't let people know, I was persistent.

　On the surface of the water, she was smiling gracefully.
　But underneath the surface, I was desperately struggling to keep my feet on the ground.
　Suddenly I wondered what I was getting away from.

　What in the world am I "escaping" from?




　People get used to it.

　They get used to being a genius.
　And being perfect.
　And being a gemstone.

　I got used to it.

　I was too used to it.

　Somewhat paralyzingly so.

　I noticed that the surface of the water and under the water were neatly separated.
　The beautiful surface of the water and the blackened surface below.

　That's what happened.

　Gentle to everyone, the Jewel of Renowth Red had a very good reputation.

　Not to the one who asked for it, but to the one who gave what was asked for.

　At some point, I began to think that this wasn't a bad idea.
　Because it's not "my fault" that I'm acting the way I'm asked to act.
　It is the responsibility of those who have asked for it.

　Let's live on the beautiful water.

　The jewel is surely worthy of it.




　One day, I met a boy.

　He, too, seemed to be struggling to make up for something.
　Maybe he is trying to make up his own "self".

　I had the impression that he was trying to be a good person somehow.
　It was like he was acting.
　A "good guy" that no one would hate.
　I knew in a hunch.
　That can't be the real thing.

　If so, they are similar.

　If you can build a deeper relationship with him, something might change.
　I had a vague feeling that this was going to happen.
　I began to have a faint hope.
　Now that I think about it, I may have clung to it.

　But--

　That encounter with the man from the Sixth House ruthlessly brought up the cracks in the jewel that I kept turning away from.

''You can continue to mindlessly refine a boring sword that can't break out of the mold and see the limits beyond it. Or you can fall into the trap of indulgence and make an irreversible mistake and be destroyed. Or you can pursue beauty and become the lapdog of the powerful. End as you please.

　The words of that man in the Sixth House were the very image of my future that I had imagined.
　If things continue as they are, I may become like this.
　I had a vague vision of my future, along with my anxiety.

　I didn't want to be, but I had a feeling that I would be.

　What was I escaping from, flapping my feet desperately under the water?

　It's easy.
　From that future.

　And so, after the defeat of Hibigami I ran out of energy.
　That's when Kurohiko came to visit the mansion.

　In conclusion, I can say that Kurohiko was a person just like me.
　Maybe she's different from me - I was about to think so, but she's a person just like me.

　It was easier in many ways.

　Someone who didn't have to act perfect to be perfect was now there for me.

　I was able to get out what I couldn't get out to anyone else.

　It was really, really easy.

　Finally - I felt like I was saved.




　There is another person who is very important to me now.

　It's Currier Versteen.

　He has a lot of things I don't have and gives me a lot of things I don't have.

　Someone I can ask for.
　Someone who can ask for it and it will be answered.
　Someone who is very strong and dependable.
　Someone who is always upright and cares about you.

　He has been so devoted to me during this festival.
　You have always been there for me.

".........


　If I'm going to be honest with you - if it were her, I'd be willing to admit defeat honestly.


　Sagara Kurohiko.
　Currier Versteen.

　Two people who are irreplaceable to me.

　I want to be in the same league with them.
　I'm not following you, I'm following you.


　I just want to be with you.




　I remember a while back, I felt myself slipping in and out of consciousness.
　It was a strange sensation.
　I was myself, but I didn't feel like myself at all.
　It's a sensation of seeing "myself" from inside myself.

　It's like my body is moving ahead of my consciousness.

　I can see countless lines.
　When I realized that I was tracing that line, I was swinging my sword.

　And then the sword is my opponent's--


　Ira Horn's arm is struck, hard.


　With a slight delay, your inner consciousness recognizes it.

"Effective strike!

　I heard a voice.

'Whoa!　This time, Cecily got an effective hit!
'What happened?　Suddenly it's back on!
'I mean, look at it!　Ira Horne, you're overwhelming me!
'I knew he was a genius!　This is Cecily Arkwright!

　They are kind enough to let me stand next to them.
　But it's not enough to stay like that.

　I have to be strong.
　To stand next to them.

　And.


　If they could win this Holy War Festival - it would surely be a very big step to reach next to them.


''Effective strike!''

　A cheer went up.

'That's the third one!　Cecily Arkwright has caught up to the same number of Isla Horne's in one fell swoop!