We were allowed to make an exception and act as a survey team.
　But that doesn't mean that the strike team will wait for us to fight Iris.
　We'll be ready to fight Iris and...
　If Iris showed up, they would immediately rush into battle.

　No matter how Iris is, it would be difficult to take on such a large number of adventurers and knights.
　Although Iris has the power of a single horseman, she has a limited amount of strength and magic power.
　As long as she fights alone, she will eventually reach her limit.

　And then you will be defeated.

　I have to stop Iris before that happens.
　I need to stop Iris, not by killing her, but by sealing her up.

　We're in a race against the clock.
　We must hurry.

Hey, Rain!

　After the meeting, we left the tent....
　I was about to go back to the inn where everyone was waiting for me when Axe stopped me.

　Well there's no way he's going to let me go quietly like this.
　I hadn't told Axe and Cell anything, you know.

　I stopped and turned to face Axe and Cell.

'Did you mean what you said in the meeting?'
You mean, find a way to seal Iris away?
'Yeah, that's it. Are you serious?
I'm serious.
Why?

　Axe gave him a grim look.

'It's a demon. He destroyed a village and killed a lot of people. If he is allowed to live, it will surely happen again. The same grief will be spread throughout the land. Is that what you want?

　Axe might have some thoughts on the matter.
　He asked in an unusually hot and strong tone.

　Then Cell interrupted him.

'Calm down,'
But hey!
'Just calm down. We can't discuss this in a calm manner with Axe right now. First, we need to hear what's going on with Rain and the others.......right?
Okay, okay.

　Axe pulled back with a look of reluctance.
　Instead, Cell turned his calm eyes to me.

''I understand what Rain is thinking. I'm not convinced but I understand.
Okay.
'But how did I get that idea?　The top has made the decision to defeat the demon. Besides, it's normal to think that they can't just let an entity like that sit idle, right?　And yet, Rain dares to try the hand of sealing. Why is that?
It's...
Can you tell me why?

　

　How will these two react?
　That's kind of predictable in a way....

　I steeled myself and told him what happened last night.

'Actually...'

　Iris's past.
　The source of Iris's hatred.
　Tell them....
　And then I told him what I thought.
　I don't want to kill him, but I can't leave him alone.
　So I'm going to stop Iris, at least in the form of a seal.
　And that's how I'm going to help Iris.

　I tell her everything I'm thinking and thinking.

''Well I see.

　Cell was calmly taking in what I had to say.
　But Axe........

Don't you dare feel sorry for the enemy!

　I was angry.
　Axe was angry at me for being touched by Iris's emotions and tinted with those colors.
　I've never seen his face before.
　I could tell that he was seriously pissed off.

'The other guy has killed a bunch of people!　You think that's acceptable just because you've had a terrible experience in the past!
You won't be forgiven.
Then....
But that doesn't excuse the rest of us who killed Iris's friends and family, does it?
That's ... but it's what the idiots of the past did!

　Axe is right.
　It's right, but....
　Sometimes the right argument, which is correct to all intents and purposes, leaves emotions behind.
　I'm going to give you an answer without emotion.

　But we're people.
　We have feelings.
　I can't help but think about what's on Iris's mind.

"I can't believe we're letting this guy get away with it.　I'm telling you, there is no way in hell I'm going to change my mind. I can assure you that there is no way in hell he's going to change. He's going to kill again.
I know. That's what I'm saying.
Then....
That's why I have a sealing solution. I don't want Iris to sin anymore so I don't want her to die so I'm going to seal her up.
That's so selfish...
Yeah, yeah. This is selfishness on my part. It's selfishness on my part, because I don't want Iris to die.
...this is ridiculous!

　Axe kicked the ground in frustration.

　I'm sorry to make you act like that but....
　Still, I can't give it away.

...Can I have one thing?

　This time Cell opened his mouth.

'Let's say, for example, that before Rain and the others could find a way to seal up the demon ... Iris, he went on the rampage again. Say he kills someone. Would you be held accountable in that case?
It won't come off.
'You understand that part. Still, Lane won't change his mind?
I won't change it.

　I stated once and for all to show my intentions.

'If we're going to talk about responsibility, we're ... people have to take responsibility for Iris. You can't just kill someone without doing that, you can't allow them to do that.
I mean, it's a killer, okay?
'But it's people's fault that it happened. And I had it coming.
Do you really think it's worth it?
I don't care what it's worth. I just want it.
That's why you're so dumb.
So, what did I just say?　This is selfishness on my part.

　I don't want Iris to suffer any more.
　I've been through so much bad stuff in my life....
　You can't just let him take his time and rest.
　Is it wrong to think so?

Phew.

　Cell let out a breath.

　It was.....
　It's a farewell breath to us, with a hint of resignation.

''All right. Rain and the others can do what they want.
Hey, Cell!　You're not going to let him get away with this?
You have no choice. You have such a strong will. Besides, do you think you can force Rain and the others to do it?　Do you think you can handle a lot of powerful species and the Rains with their most powerful species by force?
It's...
You can't, can you?　Then we have to let it go.

　And then.....
　Cell took a step back.

　The distance between me and Cell seems close and endlessly distant.
　It's only a step away but....
　I instinctively realized that the distance between them was something that could not be filled by any means.

'Rain and the others can do what they want. We won't stop you.
Thank you.
But we can't help you.
I see.
'Yeah, you're right. Cell's right. We can't hang out with Rain any longer.

　It was a declaration of goodbye.

　...I had expected this to happen.
　The two of them are top-notch adventurers.
　They reliably keep their contracts, and they also live their lives reliably following the orders of their organizations.
　I thought it was unlikely that such two people would become allies.

　I thought so, but........
　It's a sad thing when the goodbye is right in front of you.
　These are the friends we traveled with for a short time.
　I'm going to miss my friends and I'm going to miss them.

I guess this is where we say goodbye. I've enjoyed our short time together.
I had a good time, too.
Meow thank you for that.

　Kanade, who had been quietly watching the situation until now, blurted out, as if she was piqued.
　Kanade also seemed to have let the two of them off the hook for some reason, and she seemed to be lonely.

'We'll be on our way but Rain and the others should be careful too.
K... but I'm not going out with you. I'm sorry, but I don't go out with you.
'Since this is going to be our farewell, why don't you give me a more proper greeting?
I don't know what to say to these sycophants.

　Although Axe was not curt, he had a complicated look on his face.
　Although he said harsh things in words, but still, he must be concerned about us.

　
　Still.
　I decided to walk forward.
　I decided to save Iris.

　So I didn't show a look of regret........
　He held out his hand as he walked forward.

'See you later.'
Yeah.
Let's keep each other in check.

　I shook hands with Axe and Cell and gently, gently let go of their hands.
　And the bond between us, Axe and Cell was severed.