"I will... protect her...! Come at me if you dare! I don't care how much power you possess...! I won't let you lay a single finger on the person I love most ever again!"
The girl raised her spear with fierce determination. With a body that shouldn't even have been able to stand. All to protect me, she was burning away her very life force.
"Sa... rah..."
What in the world was I doing? To let my little sister say all that while I lay here doing nothing... The person I loved most, the person I adored, the person I swore my future to had stood up no matter how many times he was knocked down...!
Move... move, body! I don't want to lose anyone precious to me either! Why did I get stronger? Why did I come all this way? If I lose her here, I'll...!
"...Let's end this. Don't worry, it won't hurt anymore. I'll make it quick so you won't suffer."
Vika's voice echoed from within the Demon God's core. As the Demon God spread both arms wide, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and energy condensed above its head. Forming above it was a sphere of pitch-black energy even larger than the Demon God itself. Purple sparks crackled across its surface, radiating a violent wave of force.
If that thing dropped, we'd be wiped out without a trace... What should I do...? How do I break out of this? Think, think...!
As I desperately clung to consciousness, trying to work out a plan, our opponents weren't going to wait for an answer. The completed sphere of energy descended, poised to erase everything in its path—
"Sorry to keep you waiting, you two."
Along with that voice came a sudden, dazzling burst of light. Spreading wings that glowed platinum-gold, Alice-san stood shielding Sarah and me.
Alice-san spoke.
"I'm so sorry I'm late. I could have moved a bit sooner, but since I'm facing those two, I held back until the very last second. Leave the rest to me and rest up. ———I'll end this in a single strike."
The light enveloping Alice-san grew even brighter, even more divine. Golden particles scattered from her spread wings, enveloping us in a gentle warmth.
Facing the newly arrived Alice-san, Vika spoke up.
"You're late, Princess. You were so slow I almost forgot about you."
"Yes, sorry for the wait. But I'll make sure to earn my keep for the delay. Our 'Cleric' and 'Knight' worked so hard out here—it wouldn't look good if the 'Queen' didn't get her moment to shine, would it?"
Alice-san held her arm out, bringing her spear horizontal as she stroked its shaft. As if responding to her surging power, the spear began to pulse with a heavy, beating rhythm. Pointing the tip of the spear toward the Demon God's core—toward Vika and Belle—Alice-san gripped the butt of the shaft with her right hand.
"Spiritual Spear Albiris. A divine spear crafted by the Four Great Spirits. I'd never truly conversed with my spear before, so it took an awfully long time. But thanks to that, I finally understand... the true strength of this spear's heart———"
Enveloped in platinum-white lightning, Albiris began to shift its form. The blade grew sharper, the shaft thicker, and wing-like appendages sprouted near the pommel. As Albiris transformed, energy gathered in Alice-san's free left hand, reshaping itself as well. It stretched long and thin, curving into a gentle arc. Then, both ends were joined by a single thread of light. Her posture as she took aim was just like... an archer drawing a bow.
Alice-san declared:
"This is the true form of the Spiritual Spear Albiris———True Spiritual Spear Bow: Albiranter. Its power carries the personal seal of approval from the Primordial Goddess. Let's settle this."
Alice-san drew back Albiris, which had transformed into a massive arrow. Absurd amounts of power charged into the arrowhead—
"———Divine Destruction Arrow of the White Lightning Empress: Tachyon Breaker!"
The arrow draped in white lightning shot forth, piercing straight through the Demon God and obliterating everything in its path———
▽
It was a short while after that.
"Miu-chan, are you okay...? Well, clearly not. I'll take you to Asia-san right away."
When I came to, Alice-san was supporting me over her shoulder. On her other side was Sarah; Alice-san was carrying both of us at the same time.
With no strength left in my body, I leaned on Alice-san and looked around at our surroundings.
"...Is it over?"
At my question, Alice-san looked up at the sky.
"Yeah. It's over."
The boundary field Vika and Belle had re-deployed was completely gone, and the giant Demon God had vanished without a trace. Looking up, the aura of Alice-san's Valkyrie form painted the entire sky, shining in a brilliant platinum-gold.
"You really finished it in one shot..."
"You girls bought me the time I needed. Besides, I told you, didn't I? If our 'Cleric' and 'Knight' are giving it their all, the 'Queen' has to show off a little too, right?"
Alice-san smiled softly.
Yeah... I'm so glad the 'Queen' of the Red Dragon Emperor's peerage is Alice-san. Having a woman like her around is what keeps our peerage together—that's how it feels to me. Of course, if I said that out loud, she'd probably just shake her head modestly.
Straight ahead of us in the direction we were walking... stood the figures of Vika and Belle. Vika was clinging tightly to Belle, protecting her. However, both of their bodies had been pierced by Alice-san's single strike, and I could see their physical forms crumbling away.
Stroking the head of the girl held tight in her arms, Vika spoke softly.
"I'm... sorry. Big sister... couldn't protect you, Belle. Hehe... even after talking so big. Stealing away what was precious to others, while trying to protect my own... I suppose this is my punishment...?"
Buried in Vika's chest, Belle weakly clutched Vika's clothes, speaking in a voice that was fading away.
"...It's okay. Belle... knew it would end up like this... eventually..."
"Is that so...? But if I get to pass on together with Belle... maybe that's... for the best."
Vika smiled weakly. Her voice grew steadily quieter, until you had to strain your ears just to catch it.
Alice-san asked Vika:
"Did you two really have to go this far? To end up so broken..."
"Hehe... What's this? Are you... worried about me...?"
"Don't tease, idiot."
"Hehe, my apologies... But this... is for the best."
Vika shifted her gaze to Alice-san, then to me, before opening her mouth once more.
"...Go. If you're going to grasp the future... go to him... I'm sure he will... both this world and that world... two worlds..."
After that, Vika and Belle's voices were heard no more.
Alice-san closed her eyes for a brief moment, then looked straight ahead—toward the center of this world.
"Let's go. The battle isn't over yet. ...We're on our way, so just wait for us, Issei!"
[Miu's Side End]
~ Afterword Mini-Story ~
Issei: "You guys, yell louder! This world depends on our straight-man retorts! DON-DAKE—!! (How much/No way—!!)"
Gaspard: "I-I'll try my best! D-DON-DAKE—!!"
Kiba: "Me too?!"
Issei: "Of course! Good straight-men are a rare commodity! Come on, Kiba! DON-DAKE—!!"
Kiba: "Kuh... I guess I have no choice! D-DON-DAKE—!!"
Issei: "One more say!"
Kiba & Gaspard: ""DON-DAKE—!!""
Issei: "Everybody say!"
Kiba & Gaspard: ""DON-DAKE—!!""
And so, today as well, the training of the straight-men continues.
...
Cao Cao: "DON-DAKE—!! ...W-What am I doing...?!"
~ End of Afterword Mini-Story ~
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