What do we do now?

　Fighting Iris?

　I do feel sorry for Iris' situation.
　But that folly was done by people in the past.
　Those who live in the present are not guilty of anything.

　It's not revenge, it's just taking it out on them.
　Can we just let that go?
　Do we need to stop Iris?
　...should we fight?

　Or.

　Do you want to help Iris?

　Even though it's in the past, it doesn't erase all of a person's sins.
　There are things that have been accumulated until now.
　If we people were able to gain strength and survive by using the Celestial Race as a test subject.......
　It is a 'sin' carved into the person itself.
　It can never be wiped away.

　In a way, Iris may be right to purge such a person.
　Therefore, it may not be wrong to cooperate with Iris.

''I'm........''

　What do we do?
　What should I do?
　Which way is right?

....

　Think.
　Think.
　I do think.

　What would be right for me?
　What's right for Iris?

　...No, no.

　If we are stuck in right or wrong, we can't answer this question.

　The celestial race was betrayed by going down a path that they believed was right.
　People have betrayed the Heavenly Clan by doing what is wrong.

　If I think about things in the same measure, I might make the same mistakes.

　So what I should be thinking about is........

　What I want to do.
　To go to my own heart and get an answer.

Could I hear your answer, Miss Lane?
I'm....

　I still don't have an answer.
　In the meantime, Iris throws the words into the fold.

'Do you think you can forgive this kind of thing?'
I don't think...
Do you think my revenge is wrong?
I don't think...
So why don't you just stay out of my way?
....

　There are no words to return.

　Iris gives a small smile.

"Don't worry. I'm not a fan of the fact that I have a fondness for you, but I'm a true believer. That's why I won't be messing with Lady Rayne. And of course, I won't be hurting her people. They're not humans. They're the most powerful species. I'm not going to mess with my own people. Well, there is one person who is an oddity, a ghost, but... well, let's let that be an exception.
....
How's that?　Not a bad story, don't you think?

　I don't know.
　But.....

"...how long will Iris continue to get her revenge?
Hmmm, you're right.

　Iris says with a laugh.

'Until I die, that is.'

　As it should be.
　May it be natural.
　As it is the truth of the world.

　Iris said without hesitation.

　Hearing that answer.
　On the contrary, a certain determination in me was strengthened.
　Finally, I was able to find an answer.

"I'm going to...
Yes. And Miss Lane?
"...I can't accept Iris's words.
Hey.

　There is a haunting light in Iris's eyes.

'You do not accept my offer?　You're going to fight me on this one?　You think they want to kill each other?
No, that's not it either.
What?

　Curiously, Iris paused.

'I can't leave Iris alone. But we're not going to kill each other.
What does that... mean?
I will stop Iris. I will stop him without killing him.
....

　Iris makes a disappointed face.
　Then, she let out a sigh in disbelief.


I see you.
No, you don't see it. You still want to make peace with me, don't you?
You will.
Huh... have you been listening to me properly?　If you'd listened, you'd at least know that reconciliation is impossible.
Yes, it could be endlessly difficult.
Then....
Still.

　He interrupts Iris' words and says in a strong tone.

　Like I'm going to tell you my decision.
　Like I'm going to tell him my thoughts.
　I look firmly into Iris's eyes and spell out my thoughts.........words.

'I will not give up.'
....
I have no right to stop the revenge. If anything, I feel like Iris's revenge is justified.
In that case....
But it's no good.
What's wrong with that?　Could you tell me that so that I can understand it?
Because I'm sure Iris is going to die, right?
....

　No response.
　That's what I mean.

'Iris only cares about revenge, not living. You think that as long as you can get revenge, everything else doesn't matter-even your life, right?　Isn't it?
I'm not going to deny it.
If I knew that I wouldn't be able to leave him alone.
Dear Rayne, you are a man who...
'If I only wanted revenge, I wouldn't have stopped. But if I'm going to die from vengeance I'll stop. I'll do whatever it takes to stop it. Because I don't want Iris to die.

　I want Iris to live.
　This is selfishness on my part.

　I'm selfish.

　I'm not going to let this selfishness stand in the way of my freedom.
　Whether or not Iris's revenge is the right thing to do.
　It's a difficult question and one that I can't justify in one word.

　But I think it's wrong to let Iris die like this.
　So I'll do my best to resist.

'What right does Master Lane have to interfere with my way of life?
No.
So would you mind just staying out of it?
No. I'm selfish.
....

　Iris was pouting.

Hmmm.

　He laughed happily.


'I suppose it's true that Iris is thinking of me. I'm glad to hear that. Still, I've decided that I'm going to stop Iris.
I understand.

　Iris pulled away from me.
　I stand up and turn away.

'I'm sorry but it looks like we're going to have to fight our way out.
'Yes. But we're not going to kill each other.
Oh my. You're so sweet. I won't go easy on you, will I?
I suppose so. But I'm not going to kill Iris.

　That was my decision.
　I believed those words would resonate with Iris, even if only a little....
　I throw out the best words I can.

''Hmmm ... do you think you can stop me?　You think we can stop them alive without killing each other?
It's gonna be hard but I'll make it work.
I'm looking forward to it.

　Iris laughed...
　And then it was gone.