I stepped out of the cave, shielding myself with my palms as I basked in the sunshine for the first time in days.

''Well they're all here, aren't they?''

　The first person I saw was Patrick. He looks somewhat pessimistic. I don't need to use my emotional sensing.
　There was also Zeke and Eliza. I could feel strong anger and hatred from them. They must have found out that I killed Alford. The eyes staring at me don't waver a millimeter from mine. Do you want me to apologize? I've already forgotten what happened when I killed him. And I don't have any emotions to move before I'm sorry.
　There's even Zephyr and Khalifa-san. There's also the figure of Adolf behind me, looking at me a little sympathetically. By the looks of it, the abyss that had engulfed itself must have been peeled away. The way he looked at me when I was engulfed is still better than the way he looked at me when I was engulfed.
　The blonde elf next to the SSS rank adventurer Brahms one day.
　The three-inch old man with the tip of his tongue in Fischanatica. He was still alive. His name was Oswald, I believe. Who's next to him ... the status says "Zelus Saberhagen". Probably his grandson, judging by the age difference.
　I can see Sierra's figure as well. Behind them are Reinhardt and the White King's Knights. It seems as if Sierra is leading them.

".........Masamune," Sierra's mouth moved.

　She wanted to say something to me. It's probably something like what Nem said anyway. I can't be bothered to answer anymore. I'm almost certain of it, given the fact that we're gathered here.
　And wherever they had been recruited from, there were enough soldiers spread out as far as the eye could see to hide the horizon. Flags of various designs could be seen. Is it the Allied Forces?

　The closest thing I could see was two unfamiliar figures in front of me.
　One was a child, five or six years old, judging by his age. The status column said "Adams Rad Poly-Fear". The other was an even younger baby, an observer.

He bowed, "King of the Abyss," and said, "I am Adams.

　The child spoke in a childlike tone of voice. But there is something strange about his clean expression and clear words.

I'm sure you'll be surprised at the sight of Nem Nem's next to me.

You've been following Nem. That's a lot of them, and I can see a few flags. I wonder how many countries it consists of...

　From Nem's senses and sense of smell, you mean to say that he has followed so many of them hidden.

'All of them, King of the Abyss.

"Well you're a bad liar. I don't see any beastmen or demons here, did you fail to recruit them?

"Anorferia owes you a debt of gratitude. The Demon King Lucius said he has faith in you.

So it's all people.

The union of all men.

They're the only ones who agreed to it, right?

Listen to me, Hydaka Masamune! The child shouted angrily, "All humans have been given permission. From now on, I bind and seal you.

Sealed?　I thought all the hypocrisy was going to get together and celebrate Halloween, but to seal it...

Tell me, Masamune, please!

　It was Sierra. She looked like she was about to start crying, appealing to me to deny it.

'There must have been a reason for that!

　Sierra understands. She knows it's all true.
　But she tells herself that there is a reason for it. She hopes she's wrong. She interprets it to her advantage and wishes she could trust me.

'Sierra....'

　I was about to answer when a single-person door appeared next to me, cutting through the space, revealing Romero, whom I hadn't seen in two years.
　He bends over to show the same loyalty as "Nito-sama".
　Then he turned his head to those in front of him and said

It's been a long time," Romero said to the baby.

'Romero,' said the baby, 'it's been a long time.

'They are plotting to seal you, Lord Nito.

I just heard.

He realized he was no match for the king and gave up the fight.

Well....

Are you interested?

That being said, this number doesn't feel right.

''There will be checks and balances. But when the seal is prevented, then they still intend to use force to restrain it.

　Romero's story is unexplainable.
　I can see Patrick's heart. I can see into Sierra's mind. Nemu's heart; they are not enthusiastic about the gathering. But their emotions are always in turmoil and it's hard to take sides.
　Other than that, even if I've been involved with them in the past, they're still strangers to me. It doesn't matter what I think of them.

　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them.
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them. I'm not going to be able to get my hands on them.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find the right one for you," said Ichijo, staring at me for a moment, as if to confirm my appearance with a serious expression.

"Ichijo, it's been a while. More importantly, is that hostility directed at me?

　I said.

"Why?

Why don't you ask your heart?

　An imitation of anger. I sensed that Ichijou was waiting for me to apologize, showing hostility.

'Oh, that. For hurting Saeki and his family?

That's not all.

'Right. You've seen Saeki. So, how did it go, is he still breathing?

You're kidding me!

　The shouts of rage roared across the plains and scattered
　Ichijou's face was trembling with anger. His eyes were even more set.



Nothing?

What?

I'm asking if you have any apologies to offer!

"I wanted them dead and I wanted them to die. That hasn't changed. ...So you're angry at me for killing them. But, Ichijo, I said at the time, didn't I? I'm going to kill them all.

'I thought it was a momentum thing. I thought it was the flip side of grief.... Why did you do that to Saeki, why did you only let him live?

'Only living creatures can feel death, and even if you kill them emotionally, their anger is not transferred to the dead. ........You know, Ichijo, there is no such thing as death in this world by nature. The same is true for Koizumi, Kyogoku and Sonoda. At the moment of death, the fact that they were killed by me means nothing to them. It's as good as nothing. Those who have no sense of existence end up dead. It's not you that feels your own death, it's someone else's. Which means you and I are the only ones who matter. You see, it's all about relationships. If you're not alive, there's no relationship, there's no vengeance, there's no revenge. That's all there is to it.

'You ... when did you ... when did you start using your tongue to talk about such nonsense? Was it when you erased this left arm, when you sent it flying?

'I'm not going to be able to fix that arm. I accidentally killed a Sufiria who was supposed to make a prosthetic arm.

...the princess of Artemias?

It was an accident. I didn't want to do it. When you're swallowed by the abyss, you can't control yourself. But now all I can think of is that I didn't have a choice.

'You...' you can hear Ichijo's teeth clenching.

'Things only happen the way they do. She had her reasons to die. And all of you who have gathered here without a care in the world had to die too.

'Nito...' said Patrick's sad voice. 'You're dropping out of school and I couldn't do anything about it. I just got saved and couldn't repay you, and the next thing I know it's been eight years.

It's both of us. I had Patrick's help, too, that time.

Not that time?

I don't need anyone to help me now. No one can help me anymore. We are creatures that affect each other, not creatures that help each other in the first place. Helping each other is just an afterthought, a hypocrisy. I'm tired of seeing that kind of convenience.

　Sierra interrupted me and said.

'--No no no, I'll help!

Sierra....

'I know that Toa is dead. Is that the reason, Masamune?

　I see Oswald holding out a white wand from inside his robe. I feel a strange wave from that wand. Does it have something to do with the seal?

'There are many causes. If you were born and raised in a different environment to begin with. If I hadn't gone to that high school in the first place. If I hadn't met Saeki. If I hadn't come to this world ... if Aries hadn't banished me.

　He looked down firmly into Sierra's eyes.

"Sierra. If I hadn't met you....

'.....Why is that? How could that be!

'King of the Abyss,' the observer interrupted even Sierra's pessimism. 'Romero must have blown it to you. That the very woman you loved would come back to life. Humans will soon--'

Yeah. Romero lied to me.

　Romero beside me gave me a narrow sideways glance, ".......Your Majesty," he said. He was in a cold sweat.

''I don't believe in anyone anymore. I don't believe it, so I don't need to doubt it. Consciousness means nothing to me now. It doesn't affect me. Liberation. A steady dissolution is underway.

'You know this, and yet you desire the abyss? Did you not consider that it was that abyss of yours that killed Toatrica?

"All events are intertwined. The same is true of Toa's death. So?

　As I asked that question, five lines of light shot out of sight. They shot out at me at the same time, and in an instant, they entwined and bound my body.

　Zephyr, Eliza, the elven woman, Patrick, and Sierra.
The ray of light followed from the five of them.