I leaped at the waist, rolling on the ground while holding the light body close. Just before hitting the floor, I felt a sensation like steel burning the hair at the back of my head, making my skin crawl. But, convincing myself it was just my imagination because of the weight in my arms, I rolled away to distance myself.

When I turned around on my knees, I saw Elsa standing there, frozen with a surprised expression. It felt like I had taken one from her, and I couldn’t help but grin triumphantly.

Just as my smile sparked a reaction from Elsa, she shifted into defense mode against the incoming barrage of icicles from behind. Grateful for the support from the fake Satella, I looked down at my own chest and exclaimed,

“Are you alright?! I was desperate, so if I touched something weird, just let it slide!?”

“If you hadn’t said that, I would have been grateful. –So, how come—”

“I don’t know! My body just moved! Seriously, miracle! Make miracle! If anything, you probably don’t know, but this means we’re even! We’re even!”

Releasing Felt, I clenched my fists, feeling like I managed to do something right for once.

In this second world, Felt had saved me from Elsa’s vicious attacks. I was finally able to repay that debt to her. In this world, the memories may carry no meaning, and eventually, both Felt and I would fall before her deadly blade.

–Yet still, the kindness I received wouldn’t just vanish. And if I could move, then there were things I needed to do afterward.

“Alright, somehow I can move. Almost dying gave me a resolve. Whether it’s fake energy or courage, it’s still energy! When it’s time, you gotta act, you gotta do it!”

“H-Hey, brother…”

“Listen well, listen to me. Alright, Felt. From here on, I’ll buy time like Old Man Rom who died in battle. I’ll create at least one opening, and during that time, you run! Run with all your might through the entrance. Escape, okay?”

“–! That’s not okay! Are you telling me to bail on you?!”

As I leaned in to accept her fierce glare, I caught a glimpse of her flinching slightly at my determination.

“That’s right, you should escape with your tail between your legs. I’d rather be the one doing that, you know. I don’t want to hang around in this violent space for even a second!”

Ruffling her golden hair with force, I continued, “But you’re fifteen, and I’m eighteen. You’re probably the youngest here. So of course, it makes sense for you to choose the safest option. It’s obvious!”

“W-What’s with that… Don’t screw with me, you were trembling just a moment ago!”

“That was then! This is now! I’m not trembling now, so that’s good! And hey, you better act before I remember everything and freeze up. So hurry and run!”

She still looked like she wanted to argue, but I pressed her forehead to silence her and stood up, stretching. At my feet lay the club that Old Man Rom had let go.

I heaved it up; it was heavy, but not impossible to wield.

“I can swing with a deterrent blow. …Turns out, swinging that ridiculously oversized bamboo sword every day was the right call. Who would’ve thought it was for this moment? Go me!”

Patting myself on the back for my miracle display, I took a breath and waited for the right moment.

Behind me, Felt was still pondering something, but I didn’t have the luxury of indulging her hesitation. The longer I waited, the slimmer our chances of survival would become.

In front of me, Elsa moved gracefully, dancing with the shards of ice, fully aware of her surroundings. To someone like me, with no real combat experience, predicting if she had any openings was impossible.

The best option was to strike silently when I was sure her attention was diverted elsewhere.

Therefore, I cut down one particularly large ice pillar, and the moment Elsa’s sight fell completely into our blind spot, I swung down the club, forgetting all about my breathing.

“–Fuh!”

Perhaps it was sheer adrenaline, but the speed of my swing exceeded my expectations.

If it had connected, it would have smashed a human head like a watermelon, but—

“The aim is great. But it’s unfortunate that the murderous intent you’re spilling is all too obvious!”

“Murderous intent! I don’t know how to control that!”

As I struck from directly behind, Elsa parried with the edge of her blade, deflecting my attack and executing an evasive maneuver. Even while I was left to sulk over my failed ambush, I bared my teeth.

“Now! Go, Felt—!!”

“———!!”

My shout caused Felt to spring into motion, darting forward as if propelled by the wind.

From the very first step, she reached top speed. Like a bullet, she sped through the room, overcoming the obstacles of ice pillars and the frozen floor, her body aiming for the exit.

“Do you think I’ll let you through?”

Blocking her path was a throwing knife that Elsa had pulled from her pocket with a calm flick of her wrist.

Perhaps it was vengeance for Felt’s earlier disruption; the simply decorated blade flew straight towards Felt’s fleeing back. But—

“I’d like to let you through, but I can’t!!”

Kicking up the table next to me, I obstructed the path of the knife.

My reflexive action bore fruit, and the knife landed uselessly in the battered table instead. Internally cheering over my miraculous feat, I shouted,

“Awesome! But damn, my toes kinda hurt… buh-gah!?”

A sudden blow sent me crashing into the wall as a long leg kicked me hard in the head.

My skull was fine, thanks to the impact being on my shoulder, but the unexpected force made my thoughts freeze. A delayed wave of pain followed, and once again, I tasted blood in my mouth.

“Rarely, I felt a little annoyed.”

“I’d say it’s pretty justified! Ha-ha! Take that! I let one person get away! Let’s keep riding this loser wave of vibes!”

Standing up and pretending to be brave, I provoked Elsa to attract her attention.

It might not have been the most effective plan given my personality, but it seemed to put a deeper smile on her face, completely distracting her from Felt’s escape.

“Fine, I’ll play along. But don’t make me bored with the dance.”

“Just so you know, if you dance with me, be ready! I lack any finesse, so I’ll be stepping on your toes!”

Remembering missing out on a chance to dance with that girl I liked, I felt a little emotional damage.

Spitting blood pooling in my mouth, I grasped the club I hadn’t let go of.

It wasn’t a weapon I could afford to waste on opportunities. I set my focus solely on confronting the approaching Elsa, not thinking about using it in the same way Old Man Rom had.

“Don’t forget about me as well!”

Facing her head-on while the ice shards came at me from behind.

Without turning back, Elsa swung her blade, knocking down every attack aimed at me. That otherworldly reflex she had made even me, usually so chatty, lose my witty banter.

“I’m getting kinda tired of this little game… Can you still entertain me?”

Her voice was low, and her smile had the hue of blood.

A chill ran down my spine at that smile, and I exchanged a fleeting glance with the fake Satella. After receiving her gaze, I nodded slightly,

“If you have a hidden true power, now’s the time to let it out!”

“…I do have a trump card, but if I use it, no one else will be left standing.”

“You can still do it! You can still do it! You’re playing your cards too early! Why give up there! We’re even now! Fight on!”

Flailing my limbs to showcase my resilience, I desperately prevented the fake Satella from giving up on everything. Despite the chaos of battle, a slight smile crept onto the young girl’s face.

“I won’t do it. You’re trying so hard right now, so I won’t let you off that easily. Struggle, struggle, and keep struggling. –Depending on others is the last resort.”

Watching the girl express a reluctant demeanor like that, something lit up inside me.

It felt strange; these emotions rising within me were everything I wouldn’t usually feel.

Strange, completely strange—this wasn’t how I operated.

I had always been indifferent to those around me, influencing nothing, and whenever problems arose, I never chose to confront them seriously, instead fading like a cloud or something.

I’d never cared about others’ expectations and hadn’t wanted to be someone they leaned on.

–But now, I found myself hoping. Because I was hoping, I started feeling disappointed.

I gazed at her side profile, perpetually searching for something with an intense expression. I longed to see a smile on her face.

A shift in her demeanor, weak enough to make her look like she might give up or concede, couldn’t possibly be the first ‘smile’ I’ve seen from her.

“No count…”

“–Huh?”

“Forget everything I said before! It’s all off! I’m super fired up now, burning!!! I’m not letting you use that trump card at all!!”

Finger pointed, I proclaimed to both the fake Satella and Elsa.

Stomping my feet and spitting, I let loose all my emotions in a shout.

“Don’t make that face! You’ll ruin your beauty! And what’s worse, don’t put on that face! Read the room, Sadistic of the Year! You’re ruining your beauty again!”

“…You seem to be bursting with energy.”

“I haven’t shed a drop of blood this time around! But tonight’s club, ‘Kotei,’ is thirsty for your blood! Hmph! Hmph!”

I swung the club like a bat with fervor.

Losing balance due to the weight, I stumbled, narrowly avoiding Elsa’s knife.

“Enough with the nonsense now. Let’s begin our dance. Make sure you keep up.”

“You should take care not to sink too quickly yourself. I’ll throw a right hook and then a left hit, don’t underestimate me!”

Leaning forward lightly, Elsa prepared as I positioned the club like a home run swing.

My unnecessary motion delayed my first response against the incoming Elsa. Hurriedly, I readied my club again, bracing for her swift approach.

A gust of wind lashed sideways at Elsa, attempting to knock her off balance.

My full, merciless swing was a desperate attempt that could turn her into a bloody pulp if it connected. But—

“Do you think mercy will win against me?!”

The urgency of the situation pushed aside any notion of restraint.

Despite the lethal strike, Elsa lowered her stance and skillfully weaved around my desperate swing, escaping with a movement that seemed to graze the earth.

“Spider woman—!”

“I may have gotten tangled in your strings, but it’s no mistake.”

I saw the glint of her rising blade and instinctively leapt backwards, only to realize I hadn’t escaped her attacking range.

In that instant, when it felt like I might forget how to blink, a memory flickered through my mind—standing on tatami for the first time on two feet, as my parents clapped, saying, “This child might be a genius.”

“It’s a memory that feels almost shameful when considering my current situation—!!”

Propelled by embarrassment, I raised my knee.

With no clear aim visible, I unleashed that leg to strike directly at Elsa’s torso.

“Fuhh!” I heard a sultry groan escape her lips as her blade’s trajectory wavered slightly. Then,

“Ice shield—nice cover!!”

“I’m not great at aiming for where I want to place it… It was a near miss from becoming an ice statue.”

“Wait, you mean it was meant for Elsa, right?!”

Ice chunks appearing near my face intercepted her blade, and while throwing out a thankful remark on instinct, I caught a glimpse of the fake Satella wiping her brow as she reminisced.

Just after that, her response to my comment came out muddled, and the barrage of ice resumed targeting Elsa.

“Those fluttering insects are starting to become a nuisance… Is this the moment to drop them?”

“Don’t underestimate me, bug! I’ll dazzle you while you leave me itching for more!”

“You sure seem comfortable coming from a safe zone.”

As I provoked Elsa, who focused on dodging the barrage of ice, my own inability to take aim meant I couldn’t afford to aim for her back.

If I attempted to mix in with her attack, I’d likely end up friendly firing my own partner.

The absence of teamwork was bound to unravel during improvised team-ups like ours.

“But by overcoming this trial together, their bonds deepen. Before long, trust evolves into affection, and with their flames ignited, no one can stop them…”

“I can’t quite make out what you’re mumbling, but it definitely feels like nonsense.”

“Thinking of another woman in front of one is the height of crudeness.”

“And here comes the unexpected booing from both ends!!”

Even amidst her relentless strikes, Elsa maintained a sort of composure.

Keeping my gaze fixed on her moves as she repelled the ice, I continued striking and retreating whenever I could, not stopping my thoughts.

The war of attrition was unchanged, and if Elsa decided to, I’d be mowed down in an instant, just like Old Man Rom.

What looked like we were holding our own was simply because she was underestimating me with overwhelming power. Plus, my cowardice prevented me from stepping into the lethal range.

If I had acted bold and brave, that would’ve ended this deadlock in one stroke.

Still, this little act of timidity couldn’t hold forever.

Gradually, the violence of her slashes increased, and my emergency evasions turned ineffective as more lacerations began to appear.

Arms, calves, armpits—I received shallow cuts, the blood staining my gray jersey becoming more pronounced.

“These cuts hurt! They hurt so much! I could cry over this weak injury!”

“—I couldn’t take it anymore.”

“Aww, I’m sorry! Just kidding! Forget that last one! So don’t so readily reach for that trump card! You can still do this! I’m feeling fine! Not even slightly worried!”

I waved my hands dramatically at the fake Satella, then followed up with a spinning kick.

Switching it up from my club routine to something more acrobatic. But—

“Gotcha!”

“Wha?!”

My kick was easily dodged and casually ensnared before I could react. Elsa swung her knife towards the base of my raised leg, not shying away from speed or sharpness.

My mind screamed of blood loss and pain from denoting my upper leg—a vision of a BAD END surfaced.

“Gahh! Something in me must ignite to blaze brighter—!!”

As I hastily swung the club to defend, the heavy weight and standing on one leg left my timing off.

A silent scream echoed from the fake Satella as the cut connected against my leg.

With the shock of pain and blood pouring forth, I let out a blood-curdling scream—

“—That’s enough!”

Flames erupted through the ceiling and descended into the center of the Thieves’ Repository.

The blaze swept with a terrifying energy, even bringing Elsa’s rampage to a halt.

My legs were freed, and as I stumbled back, I instinctively fell on my rear.

Then before me, amidst the swirling dust and smoke, I saw a shining red figure.

“Looks like you were in a pinch, but I’m glad I made it in time. Now—”

“Y-You are…”

As the flames danced, the figure stepped forward.

Aiming straight for Elsa, who had just leaped back. She gripped her knife once more, finally stripping away any semblance of caution, facing the looming presence.

In the face of that overwhelming pressure, neither I, the fake Satella, or even Elsa had room to enjoy the fight anymore.

All emotions hushed; each of us froze with terror against that formidable visage.

With a singular gaze, it gathered every eye in the room, unwavering with not a single shard of concern.

A young man mirroring pure, earnest “justice” in his azure eyes shared a slight smile.

“Let’s pull the curtain on this stage—!!”

With a flick of his crimson hair, the handsome man proclaimed with pride.