Scaffolding collapsed and debris flew up.
　A large hole has been drilled in the floor.
　Iris is swallowed up in it.

　I'm ...

No, Iris!

　I ran to Iris.
　Whipping his screaming body, he ran as fast as he could...
　He grabbed Iris's hand as she was about to fall to the bottom of the earth with the debris.

'Guh!'
Master Lane?

　I barely managed to hold Iris together.
　I lie on my stomach on the floor, supporting myself with one hand while my other hand grabs Iris as she dangles in the air.

　The hole Iris is about to fall into is so deep that I can't see the bottom.
　No matter how strong a species it is, if it falls here, it will be the end of the world.

"What are you doing?　You can't help me...
Of course I'm going to help you!
'I don't know what you mean!　We are enemies, aren't we?　Why do you do this when it will all end when I die?
How could you be so wrong?

　Aww.
　Iris is a smart girl, but she's twisted in some odd ways.

　Didn't he get our intentions?
　Then I'll tell you again!

I'm trying to save Iris!
Wha...?
'Iris's vengeance will not stop. And to the end of his vengeance, Iris is going to die, isn't she?　So I tried to stop Iris. I tried to end it by sealing it off.
It's...
'Because I want Iris to live...because I can't accept that I'm going to die, that I'm going to end up...because I can't accept that. That's why I'm getting so desperate to do this!
....

　Connected by one hand and floating in the air, Iris was pouting...
　Eventually, he chuckles.

''True........you act outside of my common sense at every turn, don't you, Rain-sama?''
I'm good at surprising people.
Because of that, Master Lane, I'm going to...

　Maybe they were attracted to it.
　In a small voice, Iris said so.

''Kudos...!

　I can't get the strength in because every part of my body is screaming.
　I can't pull Iris up, and the status quo is all I can do to maintain the status quo.

　Furthermore, the ruins are collapsing.
　The vibrations are getting louder and louder as debris falls here and there.
　From the looks of things, it will take 10 minutes for the ruins to collapse...?

Iris, come on.
But...
'You can't just die and be done with it... that's a no-no!
Master Lane....
"When you die, it's the end of the world, and you've lost everything!　It's not fair to say this but I'm sure Iris's friends, her family, couldn't have lived even if they wanted to!　So, for the sake of your family and your friends ... live!
H..........?

　Iris opened her eyes wide...
　He grabbed my hand.

"That's it!

　He tried to pull Iris up.
　But it was still not strong enough.

'd*mn...Iris, fly over here...'
I'm sorry but I don't have any strength left in me either.
All right, well just hold on tight to my hand. I'll take care of the rest.
Master Lane how did you....
Yeah?
Why did you try to save me?
It's a lot of things but if I had to describe it in one word, it would be people.
Because I'm human?
'I just wanted Iris to live, that's what I thought. I just wanted her to be alive and that's how I felt.
There's no such thing as an outrageous........logic or anything........
That's just the way the human mind works.
The ... heart ...

　Iris, repeating my words, had a look on her face that I'd never seen before.

Huh.

　Finally, the rumbling of the ruins has become more intense.
　The ceiling collapsed and the walls fell down.

　The hole in the floor was gradually getting bigger and bigger, and was about to swallow us up.

''Rain-sama, that's enough........!　If we don't, Master Lane will....
Just...　I will save you.　I came here because I want Iris to live and I'm not going to give up here.
Master Lane.....

　Suspended in midair, Iris stared at us and....
　Eventually, he smiled gently.

'You really are ... a strange one, aren't you?
Iris...?
I've never seen such a person try to help me before, Master Lane. Foolish person.
You can call me an idiot, but I won't stop!
Hmmm.........I can't say such a thing. It's because........I'm very happy to see you feel that way, Rain-sama.

　Iris was still the same, smiling.

　What is it?
　For some reason, I had a bad feeling about this.

'It doesn't matter what the logic is, we just do what we think we should do ... that's the human heart. It's a little bit, but I understand it too.
What are you...
'When I think about it, this is the first time I've ever done something like this.......to work for someone else. I've lived for a long time... but this is really, really the first time I've ever done this...
'Iris, what are you talking about?　More importantly, make sure my hand...
Master Lane.

　Interrupting my words, Iris said in a strong tone.

''I wanted Rain-sama to live ... so I thought.
It's...
'I've lived my life for the sole purpose of revenge but the last thing I had in mind was for you... hmm, very interesting.
'Wait ... wait. Wait, that's a no-no!

　I raised my voice, understanding what Iris was thinking.

　But.....
　Iris had already made up her mind on the answer.
　She was ready for it.

　So there was nothing she could do to stop her...

Master Lane. Finally, may I have one last selfish thing to say?
Don't say "last"!　Right here....
If we meet again would you be willing to sign a contract with me then?　Or can't you sign up with something like me?
'No, it's not!　That's not........!
Phew, that's good.

　Iris laughed quietly...
　Then he shook off my hand.

'........Goodbye. Gentle and kind, Mr. Beast Tamer....

　Iris's body floated in the air...
　And then I fall.

　I reach for it, but I can't reach it.

'Irisooooooooo!

　Iris had a smile on her face by the end...
　As it was, it disappeared into the bowels of the earth.