Eternal Bond
Before Sagakure Yuri became Bishop, she hadn’t reached the position of Dominion yet.
At that time, she was just an ordinary Quasi-Spirit living humbly in the Seventh Region Netzach.
Nevertheless, she still had a life goal.
Make her little sister Yui happy.
There were no memories of the other world besides seeing the irresistibly sad and beautiful sunset while pushing her little sister on the swings.
It was always night time in the Seventh Region Netzach, so it was a shame of not being able to see the sunset.
Life in the Neighboring World was difficult, hard, and ordinary. There was no sense of time, with yesterday being the same as tomorrow.
One day, her little sister Yui died.
In this Neighboring World, no purpose for living can be entrusted to the dead.
“I’ve lived only for her (Yui).”
In that case, being absent also meant her own value for existence was lost.
A girl dressed in a pure white Astral Dress spoke softly and slowly to her.
At such a moment, at such a moment.
“Ara, ara, ara. If it goes on like this, you will disappear.”
Just like that would be fine, Yuri replied back to her indifferently. However, this girl didn’t listen and reached out her hand.
“Come with me.”
“……With you? Why?”
“Because I fancy your talents. Your cruelty is simply of too great value to wastefully disappear.
Isn’t that right? Because of your selfishness, you even killed your little sister in order to prevent her from leaving you. That greed is truly praiseworthy.”
She glanced at Yuri and revealed the truth.
Sister. I have my own life.
I want to fight. I want to prove myself through battle.
So I can’t stay in this home forever.
I’m not my sister’s doll!
“You weren’t satisfied with just breaking the wings of a bird that was about to fly away??”
Her entire life had been taken away.
If this wasn’t greed, then what was? Facing Yuri who had everything seen through, the Queen offered her hand.
“Take this hand. Then, offer it.”
“Offer what?”
“All of it. Including your very life. Everything.”
Arrogant words with arrogant gestures, but??
“Does everything also include this entire world?”
Yuri spoke while holding her hand back. The Queen affirmed so without being upset.
“Yes. I will destroy this world sooner or later. Before the arrival of the King, I must wipe out all of these pests.”
Who is King?
Overwhelming information and Reiryoku was poured into her by grasping that hand.
And so, she saw.
The identity of the King. What sort of existence he was. What his life was like and how he had spent it.
So dazzling.
That was the first impression. A sense of purity to cleanse her own shallow and greedy self.
“The King is that man. But don’t you think there’s too much riffraff in this Neighboring World?”
It eroded away.
All the desires she had for her little sister had gone to him.
Ah, that’s right. There was something like this? I had given up doing nothing with my life, but this was??
“So let’s destroy this Neighboring World. Destroy all of the Quasi-Spirits and clean up here.”
“I understand. My Queen. You are the only one worthy to stand beside the King.”
“Thank you. Starting from today, you will be my Bishop. Serve me until the moment you die.”
“It is my honor.”
There was only one thing Sagakure Yuri had lied to Queen.
Sagakure Yuri’s mansion had become a fierce battlefield.
The mass produced Sagakure Yui models constantly sprung out. Although they were also not afraid of death just like Empties in the White Queen’s army, they didn’t charge in chaotically and recklessly. Rather, they acted extremely efficiently while aiming to kill Kurumi and the others.
A single unit was a small-fry with decent individual fighting power, so they were attacking together in the form of a ten-fold army.
Nevertheless, their numbers were deadly.
“How many of them are there!?”
It was no wonder that Hibiki screamed. Currently, nearing 100 Sagakure Yui models were rushing towards Kurumi. Tokisaki Kurumi, Higoromo Hibiki, Yukishiro Maya, and Ariadne Foxlot, these four people were facing a countless and innumerable amount of Sagakure Yui.
“…… <Zafkiel>. ??The Second Bullet <Bet>!”
With the power of <Zafkiel>, the movements of the approaching Sagakure Yuis became sluggish as Kurumi shot the down with the long rifle. However, even then they couldn’t be fully suppressed.
“More are coming!”
The mass produced Yui models approaching Ariadne kept attacking in the wrong direction numerous times. Ariadne kept avoided their attacks by disrupting their vision. But being a hair breadth so close to the attackers, even a single blow could prove fatal.
Maya opened her Fifth Book again??flames scattered around as she tried to provide cover. But of course, the most critical situation was for Higoromo Hibiki.
“Kya! I’m going to die!”
“……Hibiki-san!”
Kurumi kicked Hibiki away, allowing her to avoid the attack, while she also continuously fired to scatter the attacking Sagakure Yui.
“Cover here for a while!”
“O-Okay!”
Kurumi smacked her lips. She thought something like this would happen, but didn’t expect it to be at this extent. Likely every Sagakure Yui in the Seventh Region Netzach had gathered here.
The quality and quantity were completely different from the dolls that she fought against in the Tenth Region Malkuth.
In any case, the number of Sagakure Yui defeated by those four had already exceeded 100.
In other words, the 100 Sagakure Yui initially in the mansion had already been killed. However, the situation hadn’t changed at all. Not only that, Kurumi caught a glance of something that unconsciously made her tremble.
Sagakure Yui models were appearing from the walls of the mansion. That meant that Sagakure Yui could be supplied in an unlimited quality.
“Should we just devour them all?”
Ariadne whispered while holding Yui’s Sephira fragment in her hand. In fact, there are people who kill Quasi-Spirits to devour their Sephira fragments after being victorious. This was especially commonplace in the Tenth Region Malkuth. But for Dominions, they had a degree of disgust for this and refrained from preying on other people’s Sephira fragments.
However, just a moment ago, the mansion had swallowed Sephira fragments to create a new Sagakure Yui. In that case, they needed to devour them to??”
Maya expressed opposition to Ariadne’s proposal.
“I think it is best not to do that. I feel like there could be a negative effect from devouring these Sephira fragments.”
“I agree with Yukishiro-san. Their color has been bleached white to indicate they have been specially treated. If you eat them, you may end up being the one devoured in turn.”
“……I see, I suppose that’s true.”
Ariadne sighed while further accelerating her Unsigned Angel. Her Unsigned Angel was a flexible thread of mercury. There was no handle for grasping, but each end was connected to her fingertips.
Thin strands of mercury were connected to each finger, reaching up to a total of ten. Through these threads, she could manipulate the emotions of others and cause the physical body to go rampant.
And of course, by bundling the threads to form a whip, it becomes a vicious physical attack.
“One, two, three.”
Accompanied by a small beeping sound, numerous Sagakure Yui were sliced apart by the mercury threads.
However, one of the Sagakure Yui bit through the threads with her teeth, which gave the chance for another one to jump forward.
“……!”
Just barely, the interception from the threads on her opposite hand came just in time.
However, another Sagakure Yui attacked while both hands were now occupied.
16 kunai flew towards Ariadne.
“The First Bullet <Aleph>……”
Kurumi shot Ariadne without looking back.
“Ooh!”
Ariadne’s arm speed suddenly doubled. Rather than defend against the 16 kunai, she entangled 5
of them with her mercury wires and flicked back the remaining 11, instantly killing five Sagakure Yui in the process.
“Amazing, that was really amazing just now! Do that again!”
“I refuse. Excessive use of time is detrimental to your health!”
For a deeper reason, Kurumi was also worried about the gaze watching them from the very beginning. There were inorganic eyes, eyes, eyes, fixed on them everywhere. But within those stares now??there was a hint of passion in those pupils.
Obviously, this was Bishop.
So of course she couldn’t keep revealing her trump cards.
“Ah!”
Hibiki fell into a crisis once again??Kurumi immediately kicked her up to the ceiling.
“Too cruel!?”
“Sorry Hibiki-san, but please stay on the ceiling for the time being.”
“I have a suggestion, Tokisaki Kurumi. There is no point in this situation. For such a large number of enemies, there is only one effective way to strike.”
Hearing what Maya had said, Kurumi nodded in agreement.
“Destroy the main body, or that is to say, crush the main force behind all of these troops. Either way, without defeating Bishop, our enemies can be described as endless.”
“Ariadne and I will create an opportunity for you. So I want you to be the one??who kills her.
When everything is over, I want to be able to trust you!”
Ariadne’s eyes rounded after she heard those rare passionate words coming out from Maya.
“……With that being said, it’s unclear where the main body is hiding.”
Kurumi replied while still shooting. Maya closed the book she was using and pulled out another book (a bulky mass market paperback edition) from the bookshelf behind her.
“Break the seal??the Ninth Book <Soul Stalker>.”
Maya tore off a page from the book without hesitation. Then, she folded it into a butterfly shape before handing it to Ariadne.
“Just one finger is enough.” “No problem.”
The mercury thread connected to Ariadne’s pinky tangled around the page, causing it to begin flying like a real butterfly.
“This page can track Sephira fragments. I’ve set it to track Sagakure Yuri. Follow that thread!”
“Got it.”
Kurumi lightly laughed before shouting towards the ceiling.
“Hibiki-san, get ready!”
“Aye, aye, sir!”
Hibiki released her hands clinging onto the chandelier and landed right behind Kurumi.
“The goal is that butterfly. Keep your attention focused on it. You must not lose sight of it. And I’ll intercept the Yui-san coming after you.”
As the two of them start running, Ariadne watched her leave while whispering to herself.
“Ah, isn’t that a so-called unbreakable combo?”
“I don’t quite understand, but we can only place our hopes onto them. Otherwise, it’ll just be a matter of time before we lose.”
Numerous Sagakure Yui chased behind after Kurumi and Hibiki.
“Anyway, let’s create an opening for them first. ??Ariadne.”
“Okay. Unsigned Angel <Taiintaiyounijuyonsetsuki>??<Hitotachi Setsukaseis?> Let’s go!”
Ariadne joined her hands together, entangling her mercury threads into the form of a whip which she vigorously swung.
Breaking through the sound barrier, a sonic shockwave passed over Kurumi and Hibiki. All of the mass produced Yui models standing near them were shattered and disappeared.
“My ears hurt……”
“I’ll remember this later……!”
Kurumi and Hibiki yelled at Ariadne as the passed through the corridor.
“Remember, huh. ……Well, maybe if we can survive this.”
“In any case, if we are defeated, I hope you can at least allow me to survive.”
“Are the words ‘at least you’ something that should be said right now?”
“I have a duty that I have been entrusted with. So I can’t die until I have fulfilled it. So if I end up stumbling, I’ll use you as shield to facilitate my escape.”
Ariadne, who knew that Maya wasn’t the type to joke around, grinned.
“Okay. Then I guess I’ll need to work harder to survive. Here comes a big move. <Hi? Y?ei Kamikizuki>!”
Cold clear threads of mercury.
The threads penetrated the bodies of the Sagakure Yui, connecting onto the Sephira fragments they were using as a power source.
“One, two, three……!”
The Sagakure Yui suddenly turned their heads to the opposite direction, launching an attack against a companion who she had just been cooperating with.
“I didn’t expect this. You can do such a thing?”
“I didn’t want to show it off since it’s such a great technique.”
Five fingers x2, a total of ten Sagakure Yuri turned friendly. They attacked the enemy with machine-like precision.
As Maya looked to the side, she noticed Ariadne was swiping away sweat. Since it was such a big move, it wasn’t uncommon for it to waste Reiryoku and require great concentration.
…………Gently, Maya let out a sigh.
Certainly, she thought now was not the time to hold back. Now was no longer the time where Dominions should hide their trump cards from each other.
“Break the seal??The First Book <Novum Testamentum>.”
For a moment, the dazzling light caused Ariadne to lose her concentration.
The shape was a huge broadsword. However, it was a sword formed by stacking countless sheets of paper.
“Three valuable books disappeared from the Neighboring World. Ah, what a waste, what a waste.”
While complaining, Maya casually swung the sword. Just like that, several of the surrounding Sagakure Yui had disappeared.
“Amazing.”
“There’s no use other than attacking, so it’s inferior to the other books in that regard. However, I think I can compete for a while with this. According to my calculations, it should last for around 30 minutes.”
“More or less, my operating limit is around the same amount of time.”
However, Maya and Ariadne, after revealing their trump cards to each other, grinned.
“Alright, let’s do this. Continue fighting and leave the rest to Tokisaki Kurumi……!
Chasing after the flying butterfly, Kurumi and Hibiki rushed forward like mad. Standing in front of them where the mass production Yui models whose numbers had swelled to over 200.
Kurumi’s brain quickly made the judgement that there was no way to overcome this. The mass-production types surpassed ordinary Quasi-Spirits in quality and were overwhelming in their numbers.
She could survive, but that would mean abandoning Hibiki.
Kurumi unconsciously ruled out this option.
There was one problem. Gradually, the Yuis were learning that Kurumi was trying to protect Hibiki.
“Kurumi-san! I’m fine!”
Of course, Hibiki also noticed this. She was obviously holding her back. But it was too late. The moment Kurumi left Hibiki’s side, the Yuis would annihilate her.
Finally, Sagakure Yuri also noticed.
“You are protecting her, Kurumi-san.”
Kurumi answered that question with silence and gunshots. She couldn’t afford to talk. She fired as many bullets as possible from <Zafkiel>.
Shooting the Yui who kept rushing forward, repelling the kunai they threw, and earnestly marching forward despite the injuries acquired.
However, as the attacks concentrated on Hibiki, Kurumi couldn’t proceed any further.
“This……!”
Close combat was already inevitable. Surrounded by the Sagakure Yuis, it was almost impossible to move. Regardless if it was jumping or dodging, everything became quite difficult.
No matter how made shots were made, there was no fear nor did they flinch from seeing their allies being killed.
They waged a battle that mechanically ignored individual life for the sake of efficiency. Kurumi tried to push Hibiki into the shadows??but that was also prevented.
Their commander Sagakure Yuri was familiar with Kurumi’s abilities.
There was a fundamental difference when compared to the battle against Doll Master in the Tenth Region Malkuth. No longer was Tokisaki Kurumi the most vigilant in the Neighboring World.
“……The First Bullet <Aleph>!”
Striking their shoulders, the mass produced Yui flew up. Then, she took the chance to shoot them down with <Zafkiel>. She kicked away the Yuis before they blew up.
This was a waste of time in both senses of the meaning. If she chose to use the <City of Devouring Time>, she would come under attack the moment she tried to concentrate. Also, Hibiki could also get caught in by being nearby.
And there was already no more chance to step back. Ariadne and Maya had likely also switched from defense to offense.
“……”
A kunai stabbed into Kurumi’s wrist. She held back the pain and didn’t make a sound.
“You seem to be in a jam.”
“……Shut up.”
Kurumi fretfully interjected??although it wasn’t sure if she could sense her agitation, Yuri smiled happily.
“Don’t give up, Tokisaki-san. Anyway, you can’t beat the White Queen. The White Queen can easily turn this situation around, but it seems that you can’t. It’s because you are impure. How sweet, do you intend to beat me while also protecting Higoromo Hibiki?”
“Please shut up.”
Her vision was blurred by sweat. The accuracy of her shooting also began to decline because of her irritation.
Although the kunai were not worth mentioning in front of her Astral Dress <Elohim>, harm couldn’t be avoided if the damage kept accumulating.
One point of damage was stacking up to one thousand points of damage. The attacks that Kurumi were receiving were like this now.
“Alright. One hundred bodies added. Is it over now?’’
“That’s……”
Hibiki muttered to herself in shock. It was hopeless. New Sagakure Yuis gushed out one after the other from both the ceilings and walls. They were both inside a barrier and Sagakure Yuri’s stomach. Even Tokisaki Kurumi was just waiting to be digested.
Grit her teeth.
Never back down, she insisted on moving forward.
And it was necessary to protect Higoromo Hibiki.
Her breathing grew ragged. Her vision seemed blurry as if drunk. There was a tinge of pain coming from the kunai stabbing her wrist. However, Kurumi still displayed a contemptuous smile.
“It’s coming.”
With that said, she turned the muzzle towards herself.
“The First Bullet <Aleph>.”
Accelerating herself??with flock of Yuis hot on her heels. Kunai poured from the sky like rain for Kurumi.
“The Second Bullet <Bet>.”
Kurumi shot the deaccelerating bullet at the kunai.
Acceleration and deceleration of time, by combining both Kurumi gained even more speed.
But she still couldn’t make the best of it. She was still using 30% of her power to protect Hibiki.
For Kurumi, that was a natural response.
“Um, Kurumi-san! I’ll think up something on my own……!”
Hibiki purposed with a painful expression, but Kurumi merely continued silently chasing after the butterfly. With each step, blood was dripping on the ground. The remaining five minutes probably couldn’t be maintained. It was difficult to even continue holding out any longer for five minutes.
But.
“Kurumi-san!”
However, she could still move. She could continue fighting for a while longer. An opportunity would emerge soon.
Endure for five minutes, keep on enduring. Blood and wounds were everywhere, but Hibiki was still almost unharmed. Kurumi kept blocking attacks that could kill Hibiki a hundred times over.
Hibiki knew she was holding her back.
Please abandon me, she cried and begged??Kurumi kept rejecting that firmly. But because of that rejection, the attacks made by the Sagakure Yuis grew even more intense.
The attacks from the Sagakure Yuis were incredible, relentless, cunning, and cruel.
Kurumi’s heart creaked and twisted. If she collapsed or retreated now, she would lose.
But at the next moment, that finally came.
A black pillar emerged passing through the first and second floors.
“……Compile……!?”
This was a memory from the other world left by the Spirits. For a moment, Sagakure Yuri, confused by the unknown substance that just appeared, suddenly stopped her own movements.
“Kurumi-san!”
Hibiki pushed her back without hesitation.
“Wha…don’t, don’t, don’t!!”
Sagakure Yuri screamed. In terms of common sense, it wasn’t wise to do this during a battle.
Touching this black pillar may cause her to stagnate or tremble.
But.
If the memory of the other world in this prism was related to him??
No matter what the situation, Kurumi had no choice but to touch it.
It seemed like this memory had been bugged.
Kurumi thought about that while looking at the mosaic-filled landscape. In some places, the texture was peeled away like a thin cloth and connection between scenes was fragmented.
Both the characters and events were diverse. But Kurumi understood immediately.
“Spirit??”
There are Spirits other than Kurumi. The first Spirit, the second Spirit, the Fourth Spirit, the Fifth Spirit, the Sixth Spirit, the Seventh Spirit, the Eighth Spirit, the Ninth Spirit, the Tenth Spirit.
They gathered together in a scene and had various conversations.
Or it was a scene of summoning determination and courage during a battle.
They risked their lives fighting. They risked their lives trying to save someone. Perhaps, it was for someone she didn’t know, perhaps it was for a friend of the Spirits, or perhaps it??was for him.
The colorful memories continued, but there was no Tokisaki Kurumi there.
It was as if they were mocking her, saying that they could still enjoy this happy life without her.
“……That’s not wrong at all.”
A single sigh, she let out all of the feelings boiling inside her.
She had realized for a while now.
Time came to a stop. The Spirits disappeared, the landscape disappeared, and in the end only one person remained.
“ ?? -san??????”
She muttered his name, a name that she still couldn’t completely recognize There were all sorts of memories, but she couldn’t record these thoughts for long.
In her brain, there was a void-shaped cube. And this sense of nothingness seemed to have taken something important from her. And the void was increasing with each passing day.
And finally she will become an Empty.
So be sure to burn this in her head.
Don’t spill even a single drop of water from both hands.
Run through.
Go back to the beginning.
Don’t think about others.
“But??”
No, that’s not it.
It’s strange for her to want to protect. The gears had gotten out of order. Don’t lose track of her goal.
Tokisaki Kurumi was selfish, with her motto being unparalleled in cruelty and arrogance.
If that’s the case, Higoromo Hibiki wasn’t an existence that should be protected??
“Ah. I really forgot something important.”
While saying that, Kurumi smiled??it was a smile Hibiki was familiar with, but also one that gave her an ominous premonition.
“……Um. I have a bad hunch.”
“The First Bullet <Aleph>.”
With no questions asked, the accelerating bullet struck Hibiki’s head.
“I won’t protect you anymore, so shall we fight together?”
“R-Really???????????????!”
Hibiki shouted loudly while shaking <King Killing>. This acceleration felt like cheating. Her body felt abnormally light and fast.
But Hibiki was also convinced.
Tomorrow, there’s definitely going to be so much muscle pain????????!
Then, with a vicious claw as her weapon, Hibiki began tearing apart one mass produced Yui after the other. Kurumi smile seeing this scene before moving on.
“Hibiki-san, follow me!”
Hearing Kurumi’s commands, Hibiki nodded with joy as she ran side-by-side with Kurumi.
The Yuis rushing to pursue them could no longer stop Kurumi, who was no longer protecting Hibiki, or Hibiki who had just been empowered by Kurumi.
“More reinforcements……!”
Hearing Yuri’s words, Kurumi let out a wicked kihihihihi laugh.
“Regretfully for you, this world is truly wonderful. As long as enough time is stalled, the reward for that time spent will come from others.”
“??What?”
They had finally arrived.
Kurumi turned to the direction of the entrance. Then, she gave a slightly helpless shrug.
“……Really, you are too slow.”
Slam, the door to the entrance had been violently opened.
“Hahahahaha! March to the battlefield! Good morning, ladies and gentlemen! You’re looking at Tokisaki Kurumi’s number one servant, Carte À Jouer!”
“Wha……!”
“Ara, ara. Why are you covered in blood, me?”
Elegantly appearing behind Carte was another Tokisaki Kurumi. A part of her past that had been extracted, her name was Cistus.
And.
Sagakure Yuri saw something that was not possible.
She was standing in an impossible position.
“??Yuri-sama.”
“Yui-chan, what are you doing?”
“Because I was worried that this situation would grow out of control, I invited these two who might be able to help. The former Dominion of the Third Region Binah Carte À Jouer-sama and another Tokisaki-sama, Cistus-sama.”
“Why did you do this……!?”
“That’s exactly my question. Yuri-sama, why are you trying to kill the Dominions?”
With a cold expression, Sagakure Yui had asked Yuri.
“Ah, that’s??that’s because, Yui-chan.”
“No, there was no need to ask anymore. For me, I only see this current reality. I can no longer stand by your side.”
Silence, all of the mass produced Yui models looked at the first class Sagakure Yui at the same time.
“……So, you are a failure.”
“Yes, I am a failure.”
This was still painful nonetheless. Yui thought it was as if being rejected by the parent that gave birth to her.
However, that wasn’t all. As her creator, it was even more important to correct her mistakes.
There were countless victims because she was looking away from this.
No matter how she tried to justify it??she needed to be killed.
Taking a deep breath, she swallowed all of the uncomfortable and out of place emotions she has had until now??
She took out her kunai.
“There’s a decisive difference between the mass produced model and me. Their weapons are just ordinary kunai. Mine has the different function that you’ve assigned to me. You should know as the person who gave this to me, but even so.”
Five kunai were being held between her fingers. Sagakure Yui took in a deep breath. Her momentum delayed Yuri’s response for a few seconds.
“Sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste, the five senses inherent within a person. My kunai will sever all five. Thus is the authority of hell.”
“Wait……”
“??I won’t wait. <Shichih?giy?jiya>!”
Yui’s kunai pierced the wall of the house. However, the moment the kunai smashed the lighting, the entire mansion began to shake.
“??! Gu, ku……aaaaaaaaaaah!”
Immediately, the mass produced Yuis stopped their attack. They started frantically looking around. It seemed they couldn’t focus on a target now that Yuri’s senses have been sealed.
“I’ve cut off Sagakure Yuri’s senses! Now!”
“Got it!”
“……Auto mode! Kill everyone that you see in front of you!”
Once again, the mass production type Yui began to move. However, their movements now were somewhat dull and automatic.
It was impossible to not take this chance. She pulled Hibiki’s arm and ran against the wall.
“Cistus, Carte-san. I’ll leave them to you!”
“Leave it to me! Look here, come on out! Ace of Spades, Nine of Diamonds, Queen of Hearts, and Four of Clover!”
“Leave it to us!” “Aye aye ma’am!” “Look at us!” “Hold back the applause; we are the four playing cards!”
“I don’t think we’ll be able to hold on with these numbers? So hurry up and clean up quickly!”
Carte, with her team of four playing cards, and Cistus began their fierce attack.
Kill everyone in front of you. Because of those orders, the larger those two’s actions served as bait, the more attention they grabbed from the mass production types??so they flashily moved without any reservations.
The situation had completely reversed. Moreover, Yuri had no way to retreat.
Carte À Jouer and her playing card subordinates brilliantly defeated the mass produced Yui models, Cistus was steadily shooting them down, Ariadne Foxlot was slicing or manipulating them with her mercury threads, and Yukishiro Maya was using all of her books to form a solid castle wall.
They were defeating the mass produced Yui models without remorse or mercy. By the time Yuri recovered from her senses being robbed by <Shichih?giy?jiya>, it was already too late.
Maya muttered to herself.
“After all, they are just the mass-production type. It is incomparable to the Sagakure Yui on our side. The same can be said when the Sagakure Yuri is not operating these mechanical dolls. Even infinite bullets can’t defeat a single round of a silver bullet.”
Ariadne also earnestly spoke.
“Yuri-chan’s abilities and wisdom is excellent. But our region isn’t above a little bullying.”
Carte À Jouer said while resolutely holding her arm against her chest.
“I suppose Tokisaki Kurumi-sama is invincible! That’s right!”
“I’m happy with this recklessness.” “Don’t underestimate the toughness that survived in the Third Region Binah!” “Please don’t think you’ll have a second chance!” “Die proud with how much trouble you have already caused!”
Cistus shrugged her shoulders while speaking.
“Well, even if we haven’t arrived, me would have found a way to deal with you. But would that have made my work a little easier?”
And finally, Sagakure Yui sighed.
“Let’s end this. Yuri-sama??no, sister. It’s over. Let’s finish this. You’ve deceived everyone too much.”
The butterfly created by Maya was fluttering as arrived exactly where Sagakure Yuri was.
“……………………Don’t……”
A faint voice, Kurumi listened carefully but didn’t stop.
“……………………Don’t……”
Hibiki also kept running. However, she understood what Yuri was trying to say.
“……Please. Don’t…...”
Ah, what compelling words. A wish that was full of deception.
“………………Please, stop………………!”
“I refuse……!”
The butterfly rushed into a room. At the same time, Kurumi and Hibiki had also arrived there. It was an empty, inorganic room.
“This is……Yuri-san’s room……?”
The butterfly kept going until it violently crashed into the wall, falling down as if completely exhausted. But even so, its role had been completely fulfilled.
“She hasn’t taken a single step from the very beginning??so it turned out to be like this. Really, I should have just done this in the beginning.”
Kurumi pointed at the wall with <Zafkiel>.
She pulled the trigger.
The wall shattered and a secret room was exposed.
“To hell with all these tricks, really.”
“Here is……”
The structure was made to resemble a huge cave.
In the dark space, there was a table just like a science lab with a semi-finished Sagakure Yui mounted on it.
They entered the darken interior.
It was more spacious than expected. Aah, aah, they advanced forward to a lamenting voice.
And so, Kurumi and Hibiki were reunited with Sagakure Yuri.
Her back was connected to cable extending from the wall. She looked like some kind of prisoner.
But she was still alive and an enemy.
Her appearance was unchanged. However, her glimmering eyes exuded a strange feeling. She was heavily breathing. With a calm look, Kurumi pointed her pistol at Yuri’s head.
“……Why, my, sister, suddenly, betrayed……me……”
“……I won’t spare your life. And I won’t conduct a foolish interrogation by asking you of what you know. There’s just one point though. Were you planning on dying from the very beginning?”
“……Maybe.”
“Why?”
Sagakure Yuri smiled disdainfully. It looked like she held disdain for everything. Then, she quietly opened her mouth.
“??Because, even that person isn’t here. ?? -san is missing here.”
Noise. She had said someone’s name, but she couldn’t recognize that name.
“……I love him. I am in love with him. But as a Dominion, as a Bishop serving the White Queen, I will never be able to meet him. So I wanted to destroy this Neighboring World in order to see him.”
She told them as if dreaming.
No, this was different. This was not as sweet as a dream. She shed tears while realizing her wrong choice.
For a brief moment, neither Kurumi nor Hibiki could say anything.
Noise. As expected, the name couldn’t be comprehended.
“Love, this feeling is definitely love.”
Kurumi somehow finally understood Sagakure Yuri’s feelings.
The Dominion of the Seventh Region Netzach, the traitor, one of the White Queen’s three executives Bishop, a girl in love had chosen to throw all of that away.
“……Do you think I can see him after I die?”
“I don’t know. However, I think there is a chance.”
A single chance. If she died in the Neighboring World, maybe she’ll be able to return back to the other world. Waking up from this dreamland and return back to reality??
She knew it was just a pipe dream. She knew that she just trampled on everything for this.
“I’ve treated Yui horribly. I did something horrible to Oka. For the other Dominions and Quasi-Spirits, I’ve brought endless trouble just gambling on a possibility??”
But, but, but even so.
“?? ?? , I want to see him.”
Sure enough, that name couldn’t reach Kurumi’s ears.
But as she whispered, she felt their feelings intersect.
“……I pray that you can see him.”
The trigger wrapped around her fingers felt heavy, but Kurumi still pulled it.
The sound of gunfire echoed.
Did Sagakure Yuri return to the other world? Or did her soul extinguish and fade into nothingness? Either way, it meant a world that was unknown to Kurumi.
Sagakure Yuri died and the title of Bishop would probably transfer to someone else.
Only Kurumi and Hibiki knew about her love.
“……Isn’t it better to keep this secret from Yui-san?”
“Either way is fine, but??no matter how cruel, I think it’s something she needs to know.”
Hibiki gave a feeble smile upon hearing what Kurumi had said.
Suddenly, there was a feeling of silence. Looking back, a special model Yui-san was standing there.
“……Yuri-sama was slain?”
“Yes, yes. You can say that she went peacefully.”
Yui gently touched Sagakure Yuri’s crumbling cheeks. She seemed to understand everything.
“She was a terrible person.”
“……Certainly.”
“Traitor, I don’t have anything to fondly recall. You were domineering and selfish. Even if I died, you wouldn’t spill a tear and say there will just be a next one.”
She mass-produced her own little sister. That was an inhuman act for sure. She abandoned Yui and continued to make one replacement after the other. So don’t be sad. In fact, Yuri has never cried for Yui up until now.
“But. That person fell in love. And it wasn’t fulfilled. That??makes me feel very sad.”
Sagakure Yui didn’t believe in that. She felt that everything will end once she dies in the Neighboring World. All that can be inherited are the memories of those that disappeared in the Neighboring World.
So she thought her sister had died without any meaning.
Because of that, she also felt sad. Being a loving sister, status, reputation, loyalty, she discarded them all and ended up with nothing.
“……But. Even then she would have no regrets.”
She lived for love, cried for love, and dissipated for love.
“I should hate you, but this is too pitiful??”
Yuri disappeared under Yui’s watch.
“Yui-san, are you going to be okay?”
Yui nodded at Kurumi’s question.
“Yes. Originally, I can do everything, including maintenance, on my own as a first-class model.
For the mass-production types, they won’t be so lucky.”
In response to that, Hibiki left the secret room and peeped at the corridor.
“Wow.”
All the mass production types were motionless. It was a space where time had stopped. The four people who were still fighting took advantage of this to run to their side.
“……Is it over?”
Hibiki nodded at Ariadne’s question. The mass production Yui models had already ceased all activities. But the sacrifice was great.
Miyafuji Oka was killed and Sagakure Yuri had betrayed them. On the other hand, the White Queen’s strength remained the same. A new replacement Bishop would soon be made. And the next Bishop won’t betray the Queen.
There was the feeling of being gradually oppressed??as if being crushed by a falling ceiling.
“……Tokisaki Kurumi. No, everyone here, I have something to tell you.”
Maya spoke with a decisive look on her face.
“What’s wrong?”
“The White Queen’s goal is to open the door to the other world in the First Region Keter. And she believes the Neighboring World must be destroyed for this purpose. And??”
The words that Maya said shocked everyone that was present.
“……That seems to be true.”
“Please, Tokisaki Kurumi. If the White Queen knows that, it’s all over for the Neighboring World. The entrance must be blocked. One is in the Second Region Chokmah. And the other is in the Fifth Region Gevurah.”
“Fifth Region Gevurah, if that’s true. Right now it’s being invaded??”
“Yes, Kagarike Haraka’s beloved disciple Tsuan is organizing a resistance there. However, recent reports have shown that the White Queen’s attacks have increased in intensity lately. So I want you to head to the Fifth Region Gevurah rather than the Sixth Region Tiphereth. She will be responsible for showing you the way.”
With that said, Maya pointed at Ariadne.
Ariadne replied with, “Eh, I haven’t heard about that”. But still she reluctantly nodded. After all, this was a veritable??world crisis.
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