'Well, wait, Palinkron ....... What do you mean ......
It's like I said. With my power, I can revive Aikawa Yotaki. Then the boy's long battle will be over.
'No, but ......, that can't be ......, that can't be .......'
You can. I'll make it work for the boy. I'll return to the world with Yotaki, who is more important than life, and spend the rest of my life as Aikawa Uzumi. That would be the best happiness for the boy, right? I'm going to make it happen.
Palinclone was trying to help me, just like the friends of yesteryear.
It was a conversation that I didn't think we had been killing each other just a moment ago.
'We can't go back to the world right away, but we'll get that ready for you at some point. So, until then, please wait quietly in the unpopulated, narrow-minded land. Alone.
Without me, Palinclone goes on with his story on his own.
But the story is not a bad one for me. So I can't think of stopping it.
On the contrary, I let out a flirtatious voice as if I were clinging to a straw.
"Ho, really--?
Yeah, that's true.
'It's a lie ....... There's no way you can revive someone that easily. That's exactly what I need to do, I need to go to the 'deepest' part of the labyrinth--
"But I did manage to 're-birth' Hein. You've already met him.
It's a story I've been wanting from the back of my throat, and yet I can't accept it because of the story that has suddenly fallen and sprung up. I was suspicious, and Palinkron continued to explain to me.
'But that's ......, he said it was different. Rastiara and the others said it wasn't, too.
'Well, those guys would say that. But did you really think that after talking to that one? That memory, that personality, that talk, that way of life, how could you say it wasn't Hein in the face of that? Boy, what did you think?
When I first met Hailey, the first thing I thought of was Mr. Hein's face.
And I also felt that he was lying when he insisted that it wasn't Mr. Hein. The last time I saw her, I was under the illusion that she was the second coming of Ms. Hein.
It's a good thing that you're not the only one.
It was in front of a respected knight .......
It's true that there are some impurities mixed in. But that's definitely Hein Helvilleshain. I've succeeded in reviving Hine. And I'm confident that this time I'll be able to give him a more complete revival.
Palinclone assured him.
There was no sign of anxiety there at all.
Heili is the one who 're-born' Mr. Hein, and from now on, Yotaki will be 're-born'. That's just a definite matter.
''Ah, ah, ......, ah, .......''
I let out what sounded like a sob.
Suddenly, the words are unspoken in hope.
My body is trembling before the happy ending. It's not the unpleasant trembling I was experiencing earlier.
But I'm sure it's not something I can take in for granted so easily. I frantically make up words to confirm the conditions for a happy ending.
'So, but 'I' isn't 'Aikawa Uzumi' and 'Yotaki' isn't my sister ......'
When the time comes for me to get close to happiness, I become a bit of a coward.
Seeing me, Palingkulon smiled at me.
''I just told you. But the boy will still help Yotaki, right? Hey, I'm sure Yotaki Aikawa thinks you're his brother. After all, that's just the way it is.
I see myself in "Dimension".
Certainly, if it's as I remember it, it's the same figure as "Aikawa Uzumi". Even I made a mistake myself, so even if it's my own sister, there's a high probability of making a mistake.
But that's too--......
'Does that make you feel guilty? Then let's revive the Aikawa brothers and sisters together. The boy can call himself "Christ" and see to it that the unfortunate Aikawa siblings become happy. This brother and sister's happiness is the boy's mission, right? You will be greatly appreciated, won't you? Even if we see it through, it's still a happy ending for the boy. The point is, as long as it ends, that's all that matters, right?
I immediately came up with an alternative.
An alternative that knows my character well. There's no denying it.
'Sure, I do, but ......'
'Of course, then you can invite the young lady and the masters behind you to join us. The boy should be happy, along with his friends. Then, this time, everyone will be happy, and everyone will be happy in the grand scheme of things.
'What? Oh, um, yeah, ......
I had been disappointed that Maria was behind me.
I felt a little guilty as I remembered my friends' presence.
And my anxiety about the remaining problems grew.
Palinclone was sensitive to the subtleties of this small anxiety and was quick to add.
'Don't worry, I'll take down the Apostle Sith and save the girl called Dia. If anyone dies from now on, I will bring them back to life. So don't worry about anything else.
He says that Palinkron will take back Dear and everything else.
Surely, if that happens, all the troubles I had will be gone.
'Yes. ......'
Reluctantly I nodded.
'You don't have to think about it anymore. The more you think about it, the more you will suffer. It's best for the boy to end his life in peace and happiness in a distant land where neither continents nor labyrinths matter. ......
It was a new 'path' that was too convenient.
I had no other choice but to accept that Palinkulon's words.
It's the words I've always wanted and the 'other way' I've always wanted.
I heard it at the worst possible time and in the worst possible way. There are only two people here, me and Palinkulon. So there's no way to resist or be strong.
It just seemed that it was a story that only benefited me and not Palinclone at all. What little thought I had left to form the words of the question.
'But you want to fight me, don't you ......?'
You've done enough fighting. You can't fight anymore, can you? Then I won't ask you to do anything. I'm going to find my next enemy.
With that, Palinclone reached out to me, who was on his knees and crying.
I feel like I'm making sense. The only thing I could do was take it at face value, as I didn't have the energy to think about anything else.
-- Palinclone will give you a reward.
He says that he recognizes my efforts to fight in the other world to this day and will give me compensation for that.
I fall for that temptation. Like a newborn baby wandering around looking for its parents.
'Oh, Palinclone ....... I am, I am .......
With both knees propped up, I try to reach out my trembling hands.
Little by little, Palinkulon's hand and mine draw closer.
When our hands are connected, my story will end.
The story of the labyrinth - or rather, the story of exposing the truth of the world - in order to return to my world will end.
But...
"--No (・・・・・)
A dignified voice passed through the wilderness of heavy rain that seemed to copy my mind.
The world where I was alone with Palinkulon was broken and a third party intervened.
With an illusion that the haze that covered the world had cleared, the owner of the voice appeared.
A soft wind blows.
A girl with silver hair appears, taking off her transparent wind robe.
Behind her, there is also a boy with golden hair hanging down.
I knew the names of those two people.
It's Heili and Ryner.
Two new 'wedges', two new opponents that must be strengthened, have come.
Naturally, I stop extending my hand.
'If you take that hand, Palinkron wins, boy. The fight is not over yet. You must not give in to temptation.'
Heili stops me with a stern tone when she shows up.
Putting down the liner, Heili walks over to me, her silver hair fluttering in the air.
Me and Palinclone are surprised by the sudden intervention of a third party. So we couldn't answer or move immediately.
Haili leaves the stunned Palinclone in a daze and takes my hand and makes me stand up. Then he urged me to move away from Palinclone.
I manage to move my flailing legs and stumble to my feet.
Heili speaks to Palinkron.
'You are still very good at bringing people down, Palinkron. But it's a sign of cowardice that you only get bossy when you have the upper hand.
......, why are you here?
Palinclone lets out a shudder. It's a rare sight for him to be so calm and collected.
It can be seen from his expression that Hailey's appearance was completely out of calculation.
That's as it should be. As a "Jewelculus", she shouldn't be here. There is no way she can be here.
Of course, at this moment, Hailey's body is still melting. It seems that the wind magic is neutralizing the effects of the World Consecration Formation, but even so, it's far from perfect. It's a slow and steady approach to death. If they continue to stay here, they will suffer the same fate as the soldiers not long ago.
However, Haili doesn't seem to be in a hurry at all, even though the particles of magic power are dissipating from her body.
''Go back now! It's going to take you down! Why are you here!
Palinclone pays his hand to the side and tries to send Hailey away.
I felt the same way as Palinclone.
'Heili ......, or, body, you're melting ......! Why are you here ......!
Before we parted at the fort, I told him to get out of here.
'I'm sorry. I was going to come to the 'center' from the beginning. ...... Hmmm. But Maria's fire made me break out in a cold sweat. If we weren't knights of the wind, we would have been in danger.
Heili talks about how he is dying here, as if he is laughing at the fact that he is dying here.
She had no intention of running away from the beginning. Certainly, if I recall the story of the fort, he didn't nod at my words to run away. But I didn't expect him to show up at this time.
'Hine's brother! Take that fool away now! It's not too late for your magic. This time all of your brother will be lost!
Leaving Hailey, who just smiles and doesn't try to run away at all, Palinkron calls out to Ryner.
Ryner's body is also beginning to melt.
Since both of them are high level knights, they won't be melting off anytime soon. But it's still dangerous.
Still, Ryner remains silent and does not move.
Instead, Hailey replies.
'I will not leave this place.' --The boy taught me that. That I will not give up until the end and fight for what is important to me. So I will stay strong and fight until the end.
When I stopped being strong, Heili said he was going to be strong as if it was a guessing game.
Hearing those words, I took a step back, as if I was scared.
'Fighting for what's important ......?'
I had completely given up on all that.
I was going to drop everything and leave it to Palinkron.
But Heili was not going to allow that to happen, and he packed up on me. Heili's face contorts for a moment, but then quickly tightens up and appeals.
''Listen, boy. I can't let Palinkron resuscitate me like that.''
And I assure you that Palinkron cannot make a happy ending.
I'm speechless at that callous declaration.
Palinkron opens his big mouth too.
'Hey, what are you talking about, hey ......?'
Leaving the Palinclone, who looks out of his mind, Hailey continues to talk to me.
'Look at me here. After all, he wasn't able to revive a single friend. After all those fresh corpses.
I couldn't answer easily. Because to admit that was the same as saying that the 'other way' presented earlier would be blocked.
So it was Palinkron who answered it.
'No, wait. Wait, hey. You've been successfully revived ....... You're Hein Helvirshain, aren't you ......!
No, I'm not. I'm Heili.
Pithily, Heili denies it.
He continues to speak to chase away Palinclone, who flinches at the affirmation.
'-- You failed to revive Hine.
'I didn't fail. ......! Resuscitation is a success. You're Hein. I defeated Reincarnation!
'If ...... then why did you throw me away after you resuscitated me? Did you send them away to escape?
What? No, wait. Really wait. And there's no reason for it. If there is a reason, it's a good one. Good intentions to let you do what you want with your short life span.
'You're lying. You can't have that kind of compassion.
'No, seriously, good intentions, man! You're saying all the right things just because they're me, dude!
'Because you couldn't really watch, could you? It must have been hard for you to face the reality that this man who was your friend, Hein, was never coming back. So they tried to pretend that I was the end of that process and that I didn't exist.
'Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. Hein, what are you talking about ......? Can you see me with that kind of compassion ......? No, this is before that. I didn't fail. I don't know what's different about you. You may look different, you may change gender, but your mentality is the same as Hain's: ......?
'Then did you look so sad when you first saw me ......? When you finally got to see your friend again, you had your face contorted because you failed ......, didn't you?
'No. ....... It's not. It's the opposite. I was just sad that I succeeded then .......
'You're the one who's talking about it! Why do you succeed and be sad!
That's--......
Palinclone finally clammed up under Hailey's angry barrage of questions.
I can see that she is confused by a situation she did not expect at all. Of course, that's me too.
'You can't revive him. No, you can't. Hence, boy, don't be fooled! This man is trying to coax you into doing the impossible, promising you the impossible!
Then he stands in front of me and tries to protect me from the Palinkron.
My mind wavers in the face of those realistic words. I can no longer believe in the existence of a convenient happy ending.
'Wait, boy! I'm not lying about this one!
Palinclone shouted in a panic. I tried to repair the connection between me and Palinclone, which was about to be interrupted.
No longer did the Palinclone in front of me have his typical calmness and composure.
So much so that I guess he hadn't expected Hailey's appearance. No, perhaps there was another reason for this bizarre dismay.
Palinclone is wildly persuaded to match Hailey's wielding of forceful logic.
'It's for the boy's sake that you don't recognize yourself as a Hine, isn't it! You're trying to empower us to stand in the same situation! No matter what memories they put into you, no matter what you remember, you wanted to show us that you are 'me'! But that self-sacrifice, that chivalrous compassion, that misguided meddling! For all intents and purposes, you're Hein!
I know that you want to think that, but you're wrong. But you are mistaken. I don't think I'm Hein at all.
f*ck you--!
Palinkron clicks his tongue.
He understands that a proper argument is futile, and turns his face to me, holding out his hands, indicating Hyli to appeal.
'Boy! As you can see, I've 're-born' Hein! At this rate, your brother's sister will be 're-born' too!
Not to be outdone, Hailey extends her arms as well.
Indicating her own body, she declares.
'Boy! I'm not Hein! It's Heili! You can't 're-birth' a Palinclone! He failed! The resurrected man himself says... I'm me! The answer is the same as the first time you said it!
The two claims were diametrically opposed.
If you believe one of them, you have no choice but to cut off one of them.
It was fortune or misfortune. It was a choice between life and death.
My body trembled at that too heavy choice. While I am confused, they continue to argue.
The argument between me and Palinkron was inherited by Hailey.
Palinkron is better at fighting tongues than anyone I know. But Palincron and Heili were equals. They were equals, as if they were friends.
'No! You are Hein Helvilshain! If you have a memory, you have a personality! The boy may have changed the gender a bit, but that idiot mentality is still there! I've proven that as long as there's 'blood', 'soul' can be crushed, I've proven it!
'No! I'm Heili Weissprope! Surely I could have been created based on Hein! Sure, I have a few memories of a man named Hein, but a different person is a different person! If you feel similar, it's just that "I" and "A Man Called Hein" have a bit of a taste for it (・・・・・・・) and it was just (・・・・) covered (・・・・・・・)! As it happens! The man Hein has not risen! Here is this failed attempt at resuscitation, Heili Weispurope! Now, finally, with confidence, I can prove it!
The way Heili speaks now is similar to me. It's as if she was looking at me a while ago.
She insists that it doesn't matter if she is a 'Jewelcrus' or not.
Before I knew it, Heili's position was the opposite of mine.
It's not that I'm getting stronger in front of a despairing Heili, but that she's getting stronger in front of a despairing me.
Yes.
It was obvious from a sidelong glance that Heili was getting stronger.
Her knees were trembling even as she screamed. She only shows a dignified expression now, but it's not a mistake to see that she showed a slight look of anguish before she started to deny herself. He's probably scared of his own loss. He's screaming and kicking logic to the curb because he has no confidence or anything else. He just keeps insisting.
You're imitating me.
Before we parted ways at the fort, Heili said, "Trust me. Now I know she's doing just that.
She's showing me what I was like when I was a tough guy. And she is telling me to take responsibility for it.
The sight of her is moving me.
Ah, so this is how I looked to Heili at that time: .......
It is too dazzling to see someone in the same position trying to live so powerfully.
To be honest, I still think of her as the reincarnation of Ms. Hein. At any rate, there is too much evidence for me to believe that.
But Heili cries out loudly.
Even if it is the truth of the world, she denies it. It is against the 'truth' of the world.
'Once a man dies, he will never return! I'm back, and I don't think I'm Hein Helvirshine! I am me!
''--Nevertheless, as a friend of Hine's, I declare the 'Magic Stone Man (Jewelculus)' here to be Hine Helvilleshain!
It was a watered-down argument. An argument without any logic. And yet, one of the words in the argument sticks out in my mind.
'I am me.'
It was convincing because Heili says it to me.
Heili's straight eyes are appealing to me.
She's telling me to shout 'I am me' too. It's telling me to be strong and keep myself together.
Sacrificing her life, Heili shows her final glow.
The spirit of the fight pushes Palinclone to change his attacker. Heili must have decided that he can't be shaken no matter what.
'Hey, brother Hein! You're better off for it! Here's your brother, and if you don't do something about it--
It's not my brother who's here. It's the Jewelculus, Mr. Heili.
But Ryner didn't hear the end of it, and he didn't say it outright.
It was an affirmation that had no room for persuasion. His expression was too expressionless to be able to guess what was on his mind.
Seeing the situation, Hailey shows a victorious face.
''How about it, Palinclone. Ryner has proven it. That it's not Hein Helvirshain that's here, but Haili Weissproepe!''
Proof? What's proof with this stuff: ......?
It's not you that gives value to life, it's someone else that gives value to life. It is not you who gives value to life, but someone else who believes in you. Therefore, no matter how much you try to knead a human being by yourself, you will never understand it. It's only with the help of someone else that you can prove who you are. That's what I was taught at ....... So--!
Haili also changes who she speaks to.
She turns her eyes more straight to me instead of to Palinclone, more straight than Palinclone.
'--and so does the boy! I don't think of you as the 'progenitor kanami'! I don't think it's a 'kanami' or a 'Christ'! A boy is a boy! I believe that I, Reiner, and the girl lying here, believe that!
And then he shows me Maria falling to the earth.
The girl who gave everything she had and said to the end that I am me - I'm me.
'Maria's cry, I heard it too. Are you going to tell me that you are nobody after being told that much? Are you going to tell me it's not worth it? Will you lose to Palinkron? Such an uncool boy, I don't want to see 'me'!
Shaking out her silver hair, Heili speaks of her desire.
Who is that 'I'?
I gulped down the urge to ask that.
I knew that he would give me a different answer anyway.
But if he said so, I had an obligation to live up to his expectations.
It's an old 'wedge'.
Over 10,000 wedges have fallen down, and my friends' wedges have fallen out, but one very old wedge remains in my heart.
He entrusted me with many things.
He didn't call my name until the end.
I remember entrusting everything to the boy (me) there, not to the gentile called Kanami, not to the founder, but to the boy (me) there.
I couldn't show my shamefulness in front of him.
I can feel that there is still a wedge in my heart, which was full of holes.
I'm sure Palinclone thought he had pulled out all the wedges that held me together. But I was only disappointed in one thing. Maybe there was no way to get to the 'wedge' of the dead ones.
'You're going to help your friends, aren't you? You are going to take down the Palinkron, right? We are going to the deepest part of the labyrinth, aren't we?
I've certainly said it.
I have to be a little stronger to not lie about it.
My 'friends' are still watching. That alone disqualifies me from giving up.
'- Maybe it was toughness at first. Maybe I was just looking good because I was in front of people. It would have been as fragile as a sandcastle that would have crumbled away as soon as it became lonely. ...... but I'm sure that strength will be the real thing one day. I have decided to believe in that possibility. You made me believe in it. ...... so, boy. Could you be a little bit stronger for me?
Heili smiled gently.
It was the first time I had ever seen her smile.
Hailey here believes my words, which were just that strong. Believing that, she could finally smile from the bottom of her heart. She must have escaped that hellish pain.
Knowing that pain, there's no way I could have betrayed this smile. ......
"-- I want to see now the cool part of the boy that I couldn't see then (・・・・). That's my regret, and it's my precious thought that I finally got it.
That's what seems to be more important than the life Hailey has found.
It's exactly the proof that he's there - the proof that he's just being strong - and that Palinkron is right, but it's the proof that he's not. Heili took it as proof that he was alive.
Behind Hyli, Palinkron shook his head.
His face was twisted in distortion.
'Boy ....... Don't be confused. You don't have to bear the self-serving expectations of that fool. Here's Hine: ....... He's here .......
I'm sure my face is as twisted as his.
The tears haven't stopped even now. I could feel large tears dripping down from my face. But I shook my head again and again, letting the tears continue to flow.
I stifle my nausea, gulp down my breath, and squeeze the words out of my spasming lungs and stomach.
He's as strong as Hailey and tells the same lies.
'No, ......, he (Mr. Hein) is not here (...) ....... He's not here (・・・・・) ....... I knew you were a liar. Palinclone .......
"--Hey! You don't say that, boy! I'm not sure that's really what you want! Once you admit that, you won't get your sister back, you know!
I won't take the saving hand that Palinkron extended to me.
In fact, I want to grab that hand and be done with it. However, because of the "wedge" in my body, I can't go and grab that hand. Instead of a convenient dream world, I'm pulled back to reality.
In the midst of reality, I try to be strong.
'Even if you don't exist, Yotaki, I will find ......! If you were dead, I would never turn to you: ......! You're my enemy, you're my enemy!
My vision is filled with tears.
Still, I said it out loud, breathlessly.
I told him that I was going to follow a 'path' that had no meaning, no value, no reward.
There is only one reason for this.
Because there are people who are counting on me. For that reason alone.
'So don't be strong, boy ......! It's hard for me to watch: ......!
Palinclone had the same look on his face as well, as if he couldn't even breathe.
'Yeah, it's hard to live ....... But that's just the way it is. It's just the way it is, Palinkron .......
I said, smiling thinly, letting the tears spill out of my eyes.
I pushed death away and let the word live out of my mouth.
Strangely enough, Palinkulon was emotionally invested in me. And then he saw where that life was going, and he felt like he was going to cry.
Thus, the two of us vomit out words to each other - and part ways.
He moves his wobbly body and points the sword's cutting edge at Palinclone.
He clearly shows his intention to fight again.
''-- "Connection.
When Hailey saw this, she chanted the magic with relief.
The ring of the magic tool was shattered to create a green magic gate.
That magic 'connection' didn't disappear even though it was above the 'World Devotional Formation'. Perhaps it's because I used a magic tool, but it's still standing strong despite being swallowed by the wave of magic power.
''Hmph. I believed you, boy. It's the coolest thing ever.''
Heili called me cool for being so strong.
I thought I was just being rather pathetic, but Heili seemed to be different.
After praising me, she let Maria, who had been unconscious, into The Connection and turned off the door.
'Maria is ......?'
Don't worry. I'm just sending you somewhere safe. Now you can fight without hesitation, right?
'Yeah, now I can fight the Palinkron again: ......
He steps forward and tries to get closer to Palinkron.
But it is stopped by Hailey.
'Wait, boy. I will fight the Palinkron first.
What? Why ......?
''If the boy fights in his current state, the Palinkron will again exploit the gap in his mind. In the meantime, have Ryner prepare your tainted mind. I'll earn that time by fighting.
''It's Palinkron's specialty. He manipulates other people's minds by exploiting the gaps in their minds while talking. It's a 'spellcraft' that is out of the way for people.
But I'm rather surprised that they are doing this well. I think this is about the same as usual, and I propose a joint front.
But it's dangerous to be alone. After all, I'm going to go with you ......
'Don't stop. For my own sake, let me go alone. Fighting him here is an absolute necessity in Hailey Weisprope's life.
He 'gazes' at Hailey, who insists that.
-- Status.
Name Haili Weissprope HP73/176 MP82/265-100 Class None
The level that had reached 30 levels at one time has dropped to nearly half.
His remaining HP and MP levels are not encouraging. Probably, my health should continue to deteriorate as well. Probably even more so than when he was suffering in the cork pavilion .......
Without a doubt, Heili will not be able to beat Palinkron.
But Heili will not give way.
Maintaining a smile, she murmurs clearly.
'I'm sure I will die. Today, here. ...... but it's not that I will die of desperation. I have to go to fulfill a promise that is more important than life. So let me go. This time you will see to it that I have my back. --boy.
It was the same declaration of suicide as before, but the expression on his face was almost different.
Unlike before, I didn't feel any of the throwaway emotions of dying because there was no other way, dying because it didn't matter anymore, or dying because it was still better.
I felt an uncompromising conviction, as if I was born for this moment today.
I don't feel frustration at all. It's because he had a look similar to my respected guardians and knights.
In the face of that firm will, I couldn't say anything. Instead, I ask my companion, the other one.
"Ryner ....... Are you sure that's what you want too ......?
Ryner, who had been silent the entire time, nodded.
'Let him do what he wants, Christ.
He doesn't say anything useless, answers shortly, and immediately begins to cast sacred magic on me.
He still has no expression. But I can only feel the resolve.
Reiner is accepting the end of Heili.
I'm sure that Ryner is much more attached to Heili than I am. I'm not sure if I'm the only one who has accepted this, but I'm not the only one who can be selfish.
The only thing I could do was to look away from Heili's back.
Then, a girl with silver hair fluttering through the shining battlefield, scattering shining magic particles as she moved forward.
''Come on, I'm your opponent. Palinkron.
"...... again (・・・・). ...... you big a**h*le.
Palinkron replies, so small and quiet that no one can hear him.
I didn't say that to anyone.
But Hailey and I, who use dimensional magic, could hear it.
And with that muttering as a signal for a fight, the white girl starts running.
The black man's face was distorted as he intercepted the white girl.