“——Yorna Mishigure has resolved to abandon the Magic City and eliminate that ‘Great Calamity.’ If it’s through that ‘Soul Marriage Technique,’ it may be possible, but there’s no guarantee.”

“…What if, we offer the Magic City, and it isn’t enough…”

“In that case, there would be no stopping the ‘Great Calamity’ from engulfing the entire Empire. There’s also the possibility that the devastation could extend even beyond the Empire, all stemming from this Magic City.”

“———”

“———”

“Lady Yorna cannot be permitted to relinquish this city.”

“This situation does not allow for sentimentality. Regardless of desires, the abandonment of the city will occur. However, I know not how to persuade you on that.”

“You think you can persuade Lady Yorna?”

“If not, everything will turn to dust. If they must act, they will. He is that kind of man, and he has adhered to that manner of being.”

“…I don’t understand. If you know that much and hold certainty, what do you wish of me?”

“You should already understand my intent, as a mere child in a position of importance in this Magic City.”

“———”

“Should we attempt to crush the ‘Great Calamity,’ Yorna Mishigure will suffer immense backlash. If you throw this Magic City at the still-growing ‘Great Calamity,’ and it isn’t enough—”

“—Then I shall—”

“———”

“Lady Yorna… for the sake of that magnificent maternal figure known as Yorna Mishigure, I shall devote myself to my longed-for love.”

“——It is noble.”

“I need no comfort, nor praise. Only your tears, Lady Yorna.”

△▼△▼△▼△

“——Stop it!!”

Tanza, with a pained expression, heard Yorna’s desperate cry from behind as she ran.

With a forward-leaning posture and sprightly kicking off the ground, the red glow in Tanza’s right eye burned fiercely, her young body radiating a strength that could rival the imperial soldiers clad in heavy armor.

She wasn’t particularly skilled in fighting or adept at magic or techniques.

Yet, no one could stop her now.

Because she was aware that she was loved by Yorna more than anyone else.

Supporting Yorna’s side, being loved, receiving words of kindness, helping her, thinking of her, praying for her.

Loving Yorna and being loved in return were essential qualities to fully receive the blessings of the ‘Soul Marriage Technique’—yet, Tanza’s love for Yorna was entirely devoid of calculation.

Some might say that love asks for no return.

But Tanza thought otherwise. The very feeling of loving someone was, in itself, the return.

The pounding heartbeat in her chest, filled with thoughts of that person, was the ‘reward’ of love.

Then Tanza had to respond with everything in her small body to that ‘reward.’

That was—

“This is the reason that I gave you my life.”

When Tanza first met Yorna, she was too young as she fled from elsewhere. Hiding behind her kind sister, she could only look up at Yorna, who acted so confidently.

She merely had the promise of living days free from fear for the first time in her life. Trusting that promise, she yearned for the days spent with her sister.

During Tanza’s second meeting with Yorna, her kind sister was taken away by horrendous beings. In despair, Tanza bit at Yorna, yet she did not reprimand her.

On the contrary, she sincerely listened to Tanza’s plea and even lent a hand to retaliate against those who stole her sister—resulting in Tanza being labeled as a traitor.

How could she not love someone who had showered her with such love and care?

Someone who had shed tears at her sister’s death, lamenting her broken promise, apologizing to Tanza.

—How could she not love them?

“———”

In front of her, a dark, writhing mass gathered beyond the smoke.

Tanza threw herself against the “Great Calamity,” which had been hurled by the city Yorna loved, and still stubbornly clung to its existence. She would not shy away from the ebbs of darkness that everyone else wanted to turn away from.

If her fear was the cause of her hesitation, what resided in Tanza’s heart was not fear.

That’s why, taking to the rubble as her footing, she leaped forward, directly charging towards the flickering ‘Great Calamity.’

If she looked back, it would become a regret. She knew it would become a curse.

But—

“Tanza—!”

She heard the beloved voice calling her name, turning her gaze behind.

There lay Yorna, collapsed on the ground, outstretched hand reaching towards her. An arrow painfully pierced her foot, understanding that someone far away was the culprit.

If it weren’t for that arrow, Yorna would have been rushing toward Tanza.

Not being able to do impulsively what she wished, Tanza felt grateful to the archer.

And—

“—Lady Yorna.”

Her lips moved.

Whether or not the following words formed into sound or were delivered to Yorna was uncertain.

Only, every night before bed, every morning when she awoke, whenever she had a spare moment, she prayed, even if just for a moment.

—Please let the days of my beloved remain healthy.

△▼△▼△▼△

The light blasted away everything, scorching everyone’s vision white.

As the light cleared and their eyes gradually regained strength, the people witnessed the fate of the Magic City.

“———”

The epicenter had sunk in as if it were gouged out, revealing a massive hole where Crimson Lapis Castle had stood in the center of the Magic City.

That enormous hole, resembling something dug by a giant’s arm, bore witness to the terrifying existence that had literally swallowed the entirety of the Magic City.

And the catastrophe that had contended with a force that could be called a total war had suddenly lost its form.

Everyone knew that this was a result of the trump card of Yorna Mishigure, the Mistress of the Magic City, and that the one who provided the last push was the young girl who risked her life.

In other words—

“——We were saved by that girl. How disgraceful of me.”

The man peering into the depths of the great hole—Kafma Ilurukusu, muttered to himself.

It was an honest statement from the heart, without a trace of deception. This earnest young man, with the valor of a warrior, who adhered to the Empire’s philosophy, reflected on how he had relied on others to compensate for his own inadequacy.

Especially since achieving that had cost the life of a young girl.

“Under ordinary circumstances, I should be opposed to you. Now that the situation has calmed, I see we must end this ceasefire and face the facts…”

“…Then you are going to fight us?”

“—No, I think I’ll pass.”

Turning his back to the great hole, Kafma shook his head at the question.

Before him stood Medium, slight of stature yet brandishing a massive sword that was far too large for her frame. The muddy, battered girl’s question shone brightly even in this desolation.

Kafma believed that this brightness was necessary to settle the unfolding situation.

After all, the Magic City Chaos Frame had collapsed, with no proper buildings left standing. Thus began the struggles for survival of those who remained.

Of course, addressing those refugees and the likely leader, Yorna Mishigure, was a role that Kafma, as the Empire’s “General,” was expected to fulfill.

“Having accompanied this noble lady as her escort, my priority must first be to reunite with her. Anything else is trivial at this stage.”

“Trivial? You mean it’s just an aside? That’s a terrible way to put it!”

“N-no, I didn’t mean it like that…”

Kafma faltered slightly at Medium’s protest, and just then, a voice lazily interrupted, “Miss Medium.”

It was the one-armed figure, Al, slowly coming toward them—

“That was just our brother’s silly way of showing he cares. There are more important matters to deal with, so let’s keep the peace here, shall we?”

“…I cannot say anything. It’s up to you all to decide how to proceed.”

“Sure thing. There are always those types, the ones who are overly wordy like your brother.”

Al shrugged in an exasperated manner as he stepped beside Medium. Medium looked up at Al and gasped.

Then, she pointed at her own face, exclaiming, “Hey Al, did you find your helmet okay?”

“Yeah, somehow it worked out. It rolled around near the inn, so I’m lucky there. Well, I knew it wouldn’t break as long as I found it.”

“—? So it’s sturdy then?”

“Yep, it’s sturdy. No one in this world can break it.”

While saying that, Al tapped the charcoal-colored helmet he wore. Upon hearing that, Medium nodded in admiration, but Kafma shot a keen glance at Al.

Noticing that gaze, Al tilted his head, “What do you want?”

“Isn’t your stance one of not fighting us? Of course, we won’t oppose you either…after all, we’re too exhausted for that.”

“Your orders in the previous battle were impressive. Why so? What were those movements of the ‘Great Calamity’?”

“That’s a trade secret. If I tell you, should I not make it ceasefire?”

“—No, I won’t retract my statement.”

Shaking his head, Kafma responded seriously to Al’s answer. He then brushed his ragged cape aside and turned his back to Al and Medium.

His footsteps led him back to that noble lady.

“By necessity, we cooperated this time. However, you are still our enemies…Unless you reconsider, we will meet again on the battlefield. At that time, I will hold nothing back.”

“I already know that…”

“We feel the same way! …Thank you for helping us.”

“As the Empire’s ‘General,’ it was only to be expected.”

Having said this, Kafma extended transparent wings from his robust back and took flight with a powerful flap.

The stir of wind raised dust, while Medium and Al watched his retreating figure. As Kafma became obscured from view,

“…Al, thank you so much. I really appreciated it. You saved me.”

“That’s mutual. Without you holding your ground, that big guy’s attacks would have been far more focused. More lives would have been lost.”

“Lost lives…”

Hearing Al’s reply, Medium gently lowered her gaze.

While observing Medium’s sorrowful expression, Al fidgeted with the seam of his helmet and

“You probably don’t understand, and it’s probably no comfort, but…If that girl Tanzer hadn’t acted like that, we would have been wiped out. Absolutely.”

“We might have been able to do more.”

“No, that path was closed to us. —We tried everything, but it was fruitless.”

Al’s disheartened words genuinely perplexed Medium. Yet even so, it would be a lie to say that it didn’t provide any comfort.

Medium understood the feelings behind Al’s attempt to comfort her, and thus, it did turn into solace for her.

“Thank you, Al.”

“…You are welcome.”

Al’s layered reply was still beyond Medium’s comprehension.

△▼△▼△▼△

“Well then, have you finished assessing what needs to be done, Yorna Mishigure?”

“…Was that you, my lord?”

Amidst mounds of rubble, remnants of structures, and a profound pit created by the aftermath of a fierce battle, the man appeared before Yorna, who stood at a vantage point overlooking the devastating scene where the Magic City Chaos Frame had made a desperate effort to eradicate the ‘Great Calamity.’

His face obscured by a devil’s mask, his voice devoid of any emotional nuance, he posed a question to her.

Stepping slowly over the wreckage, Abel sought the same view as Yorna but spoke without a trace of feeling in his voice.

“What I have to offer is as stated in the letter. I await your answer.”

“Is that what you say while gazing at this calamity?”

“Should consolation serve as a shield, or sympathy create a refuge? You and I are both born of choices made. Every single second for us is not equivalent to another.”

“———”

She did not seek consolation or sympathy. This man chose not to embrace sentimentality.

Yorna understood that, hence she resisted the urge to confront him on that matter. Above all, she would gain nothing by opposing him for emotional reasons.

“I have already lost too much today.”

“There is no difference with the people in a city, including the time and opportune moments.”

“…Tanzer.”

“———”

“Lastly, the precious child who threw herself to save us… Her name is Tanzer.”

As she said this, Yorna removed the obi adornment from her kimono and presented it to Abel.

The smooth, polished piece drew Abel’s silent inquiry, which he sought to clarify with just a glance. Yorna slightly lowered her gaze and continued on.

“This ornament was carved from the horn of that child’s sister. When mourning her sister’s remains, Tanzer made it for me…and more besides.”

“———”

“This hairpin and kanzashi too—all were offerings from my beloved children. Those children, exiled from their home, desiring to repay me, created these tokens by chipping away at themselves.”

The colorful accessories, hair adornments, and kanzashi, all were tributes from the denizens of the Magic City.

Some sacrificed their scales, others collected feathers, and still others polished horns and fangs, all to present them to Yorna, thereby manifesting their existence and gratitude.

To Yorna, they held greater value than precious jewels or treasures; receiving such gifts made her feel as if she must respond to their love.

That was—

“I cannot further betray this promise…”

“—Before long, Vincent Volakia and the others who departed will begin to move. While circumstances won’t allow them to act in this spot, it’s only a matter of time. There’s no leeway.”

“What are you planning to do with my children?”

“We must first establish a base at a castle city. Along the way, we will secure other towns to add to our side. It can be done if you and the Magic City residents are with us.”

With the functions of the Magic City lost, there would need to be a place to receive the displaced residents.

Abel’s proposal was coercive, imposing unfair demands on others. Yet Yorna equally had priorities—her urgency was to save those dear to her.

All that remains—

“Are you truly prepared to grant my request as per the letter?”

“I will not say it twice. But consider well.”

“Consider…”

“Which of your long-held desires and your so-called ‘love’ must take priority.”

The emotionless words of Abel, possibly a warning, were ones that Yorna could not decipher as coming from either goodwill or ill will.

Yet his admonition struck a chord within her, prompting her to pull out a pipe from her obi and forcefully straighten its bent end, lighting it up and letting purple smoke swirl around her.

As she surveyed the ruined city below, Yorna’s beloved children began to gather parts of their lives, remnants of what had sustained them, preparing for the future.

Would she be able to provide shelter for them tomorrow, and light a path for them beyond?

It depended on Yorna.

She would side with Abel and Vincent Volakia—no, the false king impersonating him, dragging him down from his throne and fulfilling the promises of the letter.

That promise contained the intention of—

“——Is there one who dies before their parents, Tanzer?”

In that instant, the smoke entwined with her beloved child’s choice, vanishing with the wind.

△▼△▼△▼△

As they viewed the rising purple smoke from a distance, a man with a devil’s mask approached, met by Abel.

Upon seeing the somber figure of Talitta standing still, Abel scoffed softly.

“If you are concerned about the foot you shot, it is unwarranted. The wound has already begun to heal. By tomorrow, it should be as good as new.”

“…That’s good to hear. But that wasn’t my concern.”

“Oh?”

True to Abel’s words, Yorna standing atop the rise appeared unbothered. While there was evidence of exhaustion in her disheveled hair and kimono, her right leg, pierced by the arrow, showed no signs of weakness.

It might be that her condition or the effects of her mystical arts had aided her. However, what weighed more on her mind than that wound was the result of the shooting.

Of course, Talitta fully understood that weight.

“———”

In that final moment, the choice entrusted to Talitta was on the arrow.

If she were to comply with the destiny left by Mariuri as “the star prophet,” she should have aimed that arrow at Abel’s heart. She could not imagine what consequences would follow the ‘Great Calamity’ if she did, but that option remained a valid one among her choices.

Yet, that meant she would follow the star that had transformed Mariuri into an unfathomable entity, a decision equivalent to self-mutilation.

—In the end, what separated Talitta’s choice was simply that very point.

Talitta despised the stars that had changed Mariuri. That was why she did not follow them.

For someone who felt comfortable being commanded by others, the destiny might have been the most fitting match for Talitta.

However, her encounter with the stars was poorly timed.

Had the stars spoken to Talitta rather than Mariuri from the beginning, she might have lived for their sake. But, that was not how it played out.

So—

“—In that moment, I pushed the back of the girl with the deer horns without hesitation.”

As a result, that little girl somehow birthed the light that would erase the ‘Great Calamity’ from within.

In exchange, the child lost her life, and significant damage erased the land that once housed the Magic City. However, she could say she protected what she wished to safeguard.

“Still, your complexion is not looking good.”

“I… was I right? I didn’t shoot you, not complying with the destiny.”

“You don’t get shot by someone who should have shot you. I can’t speak to the rightness or wrongness of your decision. It may sound cliché, but the righteousness of one’s choices is confirmed by one’s actions later.”

“…Those aren’t words I think of as yours.”

“Indeed, they aren’t. ‘Iris and the Thorned King’… a quote from a classic.”

Speaking of a topic Talitta didn’t understand, Abel dismissed her confusion, shaking his head.

Then, he surveyed Talitta from top to bottom and asked,

“Though you still harbor doubts, have you somewhat cleared your head? What will you do moving forward?”

“I’m not clear, but I want to return to that town and converse with my sister and kin. Even with my soul sister’s daughter who is already gone…”

“Your soul sister, and the entrusted destiny… It supports your explanation of not being a ‘star prophet.’ They are increasingly detestable beings.”

“Detestable…?”

“It’s not about you. For the most part, I understand your course of action.”

Responding with a distasteful aura, Abel looked around at the ruins.

Many individuals had entered the city turned to ruins, gathering belongings they had survived with, salvaging any usable materials to commence their struggle for life.

Talitta was genuinely moved by the resilience of these people from the Magic City.

Given the city’s origins, they must have faced persecution, oppression, and become accustomed to loss. Even taking that into account,

“Are you planning to embroil them in your conflict?”

“Indeed.”

His short, definitive answer left Talitta momentarily stunned.

There was no hesitation in him, as Abel watched the determined individuals striving in the ruined land, insisting that the original goal of coming to the chaos frame should remain intact—he would resume it.

Then—

“—Even if Abel-chan believes that, will those around us quietly comply? That fox-eared lady, too; she might find it emotionally difficult to side with us, don’t you think?”

Al spoke, presenting a valid point as he joined Abel and Talitta.

He had been absent for a while, but now sported his familiar helmet and ambled over looking much like his old self.

By Al’s side stood Medium, gazing at Abel with her bright blue eyes, “I feel the same way as Al. It would make me so happy if Yorna-chan would join us, but considering what happened to Tanzer-chan and the city—”

“—Is it that Yorna Mishigure couldn’t bring herself to obey with the very being at the center of that calamity by her side? That’s an overly sentimental notion. She has already made up her mind.”

“Really? Did Abel-chan say something cruel again?”

“Regardless of the degree of severity, I am speaking about what’s necessary. My intentions are clear.”

Medium, refusing to let the earlier doubt go, puffed her cheeks as Abel didn’t deny the query directed at him.

In fact, as far as Talitta had gleaned, the exchange between Yorna and Abel had been devoid of sentiment.

Nevertheless, Abel placed such unwavering confidence in Yorna’s resolve because—

“He is preparing to exploit Lady Yorna’s vulnerability… In the end, unless we walk the same path, we won’t be able to protect the residents of this forsaken city.”

“That’s…! You’re saying that again, Abel-chan.”

“Is there any other alternative? If not, the only course left would be to uphold some pointless stubbornness and perish.”

“Even if there are no other paths, there are other expressions! Why don’t you understand?”

As Medium raised her voice and pressed forward, Abel met her fervent gaze through the mask.

Looking sideways at the two dynamics unfurling, Talitta worried whether Al might offer a harsh judgement in response to Medium’s passionate plea, although her own sentiments leaned towards Medium.

However, as long as they adhered to the treaty established between the previous emperor and the ‘People of Shudrak,’ Talitta had no option to abandon Abel or cut ties.

Emotional loyalty meant little in the world of hard-nosed battles.

“Medium-chan’s distress is entirely justified. However, I personally bear no dislike for Abel-chan’s notion of utilizing anything available. Of course, if Lady Yorna chooses to align with us for pragmatic reasons, I have no objections.”

“I have abundant objections! I dislike you, Al-chan!”

“I bear the pain of being disliked by you, Medium-chan. That said—”

Al paused, restraining Medium who had flared at him, shifting his gaze toward the central void, the great hole emerging from the whereabouts of the ruins.

That movement drew the attention of Talitta and the others, leading him to broach the subject.

“Let’s speak of our kin… About our brother.”

“———”

Al’s choice of topic made the atmosphere faintly tense.

Everyone understood it was a conversation that must be held, yet they grappled with how best to open it.

After all—

“Where did Subaru-kun go…?”

Medium’s lament was the precursor of the minor damages brought forth by the ‘Great Calamity.’

Though the loss of an entire renowned city of the Empire and the peril that nearly claimed the lives of two emperors could make it appear minor,

Such losses were not insignificant to those who embarked toward the Magic City.

“Yorna-chan said Subaru-kun’s shadow burst forth from that place.”

“Old man Roswaal said as well. Even with his right hand missing, he had a laugh—if you’ve been without a hand as long as I have, that’s pretty hard to believe.”

“Was it the old man’s stance? Or his claims?”

“Damn it, it’s more about his attitude in this case. I believe what he said is probably true.”

Al muttered with a click of his tongue, trusting Roswaal’s testimony.

Even though Talitta had no fond impressions of the old man, he certainly had no reason to lie. Given that he and Yorna were in agreement, it was likely fact.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Talitta’s mind; the will left by Mariuri—the “traveler with black hair and eyes.”

When she first spotted Subaru in the woods, without a second thought, she had aimed to take his life. Later, after learning about Al’s identity and his background, she had come to believe she had misjudged him entirely.

“Should that happen—”

What if Mariuri’s foresight as a “star prophet,” which predicted the ‘Great Calamity,’ pointed towards Subaru rather than Abel?

That was why that ‘Great Calamity’ spilled forth from Subaru.

Such doubts plagued Talitta’s heart relentlessly.

“We must unify our opinions on one matter.”

Ignoring Talitta’s turmoil, Abel raised his finger at the center of the group.

Gathering the attention of Medium, Al, and Talitta, he scanned their faces, declaring,

“Your tones indicate you have no doubts about that… Natsuki Subaru’s survival. You genuinely believe he survived amidst such misery?”

“——Of course! There’s no way Subaru-kun would—”

“I don’t want to accept that, but believe me when I say what’s destined will unfold. The lives and deaths of others fall along those lines.”

“Abel-chan…”

The even-toned words of Abel collided sharply with Medium’s emotional protest.

Talitta found herself siding with Medium’s feelings. Yet, being at the eye of the calamity, she held no faith that Subaru could have survived.

Given the habitual nature of hunting, and the awareness of life and death was part of everyday existence.

Shudrak was a brave warrior, but hunting for sustenance was a life-or-death venture. It was not rare for companions to lose their lives from the desperate counterattacks of beasts.

People could die. Easily. It mattered not whether they were important or not.

“What a pity, but I fear Subaru—”

“My brother is alive.”

“—Al-kun!”

Turning her head, Talitta attempted to express sorrow, only for the words to be blocked by Al’s fervent conviction, causing Medium’s face to brighten.

It was only natural for Abel to glare at Al, his gaze now unkind.

“The fool. Why are you certain of his existence?”

“It’s simple. That’s just the kind of guy Natsuki Subaru is. To elaborate—”

“Elaborate?”

“The world hasn’t ended. That’s my basis.”

The logic Al had laid down was beyond Talitta’s comprehension. It seemed Medium shared her confusion, similarly tilting her head in uncertainty.

Abel brushed it aside, barking, “Enough of your nonsense. If you wish to prance around, do it in front of Priscilla.”

“I would love to do that, but with the princess not here, that’s impossible. While I’m at it, I want to ask Abel-chan something,”

“What?”

“What’s your take? Do you believe my brother is dead?”

Donning his helmet, Al pressed Abel for his thoughts. Yet it seemed as if he had already come to a conclusion. This was a line of questioning that was generally absurd to even believe Subaru would be alive.

Naturally, Abel thought that with Subaru being amidst the ‘Great Calamity’—

“—If that was not the ‘Great Calamity,’ a role remains for him. If he possesses the means, it would be too early to assume he died.”

“Eh…”

“Abel-chan!?”

However, the actual response that fell from Abel’s lips was the very antithesis of Talitta’s predictions.

Talitta was struck dumb by that answer, while Medium, despite gaining the response she hoped for, was equally astonished.

Still, Abel did not pay heed to the gazes of Talitta and Medium but shifted his body and began to walk away.

As Talitta and Medium exchanged glances, Al trailed behind them, somewhat perplexed.

“Abel-chan! What does that even mean? Please explain!”

“What explanation is required?”

“Everything! Until just now, you were acting like Subaru-kun had died.”

“I simply asked that if you believe he has survived, to provide a logical basis, rather than emotional reasoning. I think he holds a reason for survival. Therefore, I believe he has survived. That is all.”

“~~~!”

Medium flushed with indignation at Abel’s answer, her frustration apparent—even if she was receiving no acknowledgment from Abel as she turned her back.

Eventually, Abel halted his steps further down the path, stopping before the hollow formed in the land where the ‘Great Calamity’ had blasted away the Magic City.

At that spot—

“Uaa…”

A small girl—Lui—sat crouched at the edge of the pit, her head hung low.

Drenched in mud, her white clothing was entirely soiled as she dug at the soil with her bare hands. While her hands were dirtied, the blood seeping from her broken nails was noticeable.

“Lui-chan…!”

Medium rushed to the small girl, wrapping her arms around her from behind. Even in Medium’s embrace, Lui did not halt her efforts.

Digging the earth, or pushing away rubble, it seemed the girl was seeking something. No, not something.

“You are searching… for Subaru.”

“For better or worse, I suppose. …Tch, this is so annoying.”

Watching little Lui’s back, both Talitta and Al exhaled their respective sentiments.

By then, Al’s attitude towards Lui had grown somewhat rough. Yet considering Al was the one who had protected her from the last impact that had blasted away the ‘Great Calamity,’ Talitta found the complexities of their relationship somewhat baffling.

Probing into that now would likely offer nobody any happiness. That much was clear, so Talitta refrained from asking any direct questions about it.

“You must stop now. Spading the dirt here alone won’t bring back what you’re looking for.”

“Uu—Ahh!”

Cuddled in Medium’s embrace, Lui turned her face toward Abel who stood behind her. Her expression was simultaneously one of anger and sorrow.

It looked as though she both scolded Abel and pleaded with him to refrain from interrupting her search.

Abel would care for the first but remain indifferent to the second, as he gestured toward the pit.

“Finding that thing will not be easy. At the very least, you won’t find anything by merely digging alone. You first must consider where it might have been flung.”

“Uu! Uu—!”

In response to Abel’s cold words, Lui turned beet red, opening her mouth to protest vehemently.

From her forceful demeanor, it was clear she would not surrender her search for Subaru. She was determined to find him, no matter what.

And then—

“Abel-chan, do you have a way to find Subaru-kun?”

“Uu, u?”

“Your phrasing just now sounded like it wouldn’t help if Lui-chan searched alone. Could it be that you have a better method in mind?”

While enveloping the energetic Lui, Medium urgently projected her question onto Abel. It calmed Lui’s fervor, giving Abel a moment to ponder.

Then, after a pause, he stated—

“The method to seek isn’t particularly gentle. Originally, the intent wasn’t necessarily to seek out what has been lost, but rather to ensure justification for confronting the Imperial Capital.”

“Make it clearer!”

“…If the plan progresses as intended, there’s a chance for both you and this girl’s wish to be realized. After all, the Empire will be scouring for that person.”

“The Empire will be looking for Subaru…?”

Talitta’s brows knitted as she caught the fragment of Abel’s words that intrigued her.

Similar to Medium, Talitta didn’t possess much of an intuition. She simply lacked the courage to admit ignorance aloud like Medium did, her uncertainty concealed within.

In any case, Abel’s attempts to clarify didn’t yield results due to the lack of foundational knowledge for Talitta.

However—

“—Uu, uuh uuuu?”

The true intent behind those words only managed to reach the correct recipient.

As Lui, who had been armed with determination, wilted in Medium’s arms, her gaze met Abel’s, voicelessly asking a question.

Taking this in stride, Abel nodded despite his understanding of its true significance still being murky.

“So, what’s next? How can we actualize this plan to find your brother?”

“It’s not that difficult. You merely have to circulate the word.”

“———”

In response to Al’s inquiry, Abel noticed Medium glaring sharply at him. Yet, Abel appeared to have anticipated Medium’s inquiry, sighing before continuing.

That was—

“——Vincent Volakia’s illegitimate child, the black-haired, black-eyed outcast targets the throne of his father. It is truly a reproduction of the ‘Magritza Execution Table.'”

△▼△▼△▼△

—On the same day, at the same hour, in a certain location.

“——”

Determined to push her drenched body forward, I managed to grasp the slick, muddy ground just enough for my fingertips to cling to it. Once this sensation slipped away, there would be no return.

Literally fighting for my life—no, battling with everything I had.

The pitch-black water, a space without escape, ruthlessly drained my body temperature and strength at an incredible speed, making me feel like I was drowning numerous times. I couldn’t even distinguish whether it was a dream or reality.

Time and again, I felt the sensation of being consumed by a large shadow in the water. Unable to keep breathing, lungs filling with bitter water, tasting the blood as I drowned. Losing consciousness and slipping away like I was merely falling asleep was a possibility too.

Endlessly repeating, each time was twisted.

But finally—

“Ah! Bua—”

As I forced the water from my lungs while dragging myself ashore by sheer will, the suffering, the heaviness overwhelmed me. If only I had both hands free, it would have been so much easier. Yet I could not.

In my left arm, I gripped tightly onto something I could never let go.

Before understanding what that was, I had failed more than once. Each time, I had let it slip from my grasp.

But after realizing what it was, I could never release it. Thus, having repeated my failures, I still never lost hope—

“———”

Using my right arm to push up whatever I had been holding tightly against my left, I thrust it up toward the shore.

Its size was small, but it felt heavy. My own fatigue and the inconvenience of our attire were unfortunate.

Especially her attire was in kimono style, possessing much more fabric than an ordinary outfit. More fabric meant more material to absorb water.

I had to bless the act of partially stripping down the kimono to make myself lighter.

Additionally, while holding her, I had been painfully jabbed by the sharp points of her deer horns. I wish that counted as mutual suffering.

Furthermore—

“Ugh…”

With a final effort, I urged her onto the shore and now only had to pull myself up.

Yet as soon as I urged her up, the tension slipped away, and in the moment when I desperately needed to muster my last reserves of strength, I felt none was forthcoming, and my hands merely scraped futilely against the dry earth.

If I didn’t do something, this wouldn’t be good—my spinning head and the continuous ringing in my ears warned me.

I was on the brink of losing consciousness. Losing awareness here meant ‘death.’

When the tension breaks and no will remains to accomplish this, I would be doomed to repeat this cycle of dreams and reality once more.

That was something I truly wished to prevent, struggling with all the strength I had to refocus my consciousness—

Then, as consciousness began to fade, as if I were releasing my grip on the shore—

“—Oh dear, that was close.”

In an instant, hands that grasped my sinking arm yanked me back.

Tightly, slender fingers clasped my wrist, pulling my sinking body towards the shore. My face emerged from the water, barely catching my breath as I gazed dizzily at my rescuer.

Just who was it grasping this arm, I wondered—yet—

“Oh, stop now. You’re about to lose consciousness, right? That wouldn’t finish things on a high note. If we’re going to do this, let’s make it more dramatic!”

Unbelievably, as they grasped my hand, the opposite hand came up to cover my eyes. All I saw was the silhouette of their palm.

An unusually long lifeline—belonging to a stranger.

That glimpse marked the end of my consciousness fading away.

“However, how incredibly you managed to swim through all that! By mere chance, it seems I was sauntering about with the wind blowing me this way! What a marvelous tale we have ahead of us!”

Fading consciousness could only still register the lively voice, echoing like thunder.

“—Don’t you get a sense that a grand story is about to unfold?”

To a question I couldn’t answer, my consciousness—Natsuki Subaru’s consciousness—slipped away.