"Right! —Master."
[Y-Yes!]
Meeting her Master's eyes, she speaks with a smile.
"This is as far as I can go. —"
She pulls her Master, Rikka, into a hug.
[Ah—]
"Thank you. Because you were you, I was able to reach this answer. —My precious Master. Please, convey your answer to them as well."
[—Yes…!]
"You've worked so hard until now. —Truly, Rikka-chan, you are a wonderful girl."
[…Thank you… so much…!]
Nodding at Rikka's answer, she turns to Mash.
"Mash. Even when the fighting was scary, even when it was painful. Thank you for protecting us with everything you had."
"No, I…"
"No. Hold your head high. This journey was beautiful because you were there. We made it this far because you tried your best. …You truly are Rikka-chan's Servant."
"—! Thank you… thank you so much!"
"—Ah. I finally said it."
She nods quietly and mounts Fou.
"I'm off to fulfill my final role. …Both of you, please, stay safe."
The two girls watch as Aia ascends.
"Gilgameshia-san! Um, that is…!"
[We'll definitely meet again, right?! Absolutely!]
At those words, she nods with a smile.
"—We're always together! As long as the King of Heroes exists!"
With that, Aia flies. Into the void, toward the place where the Demon Gods dwell.
『I am very happy right now.』
"?"
『For the fact that I met you, for every moment we spent together—thank you. My precious, precious destiny.』
"—Same here. From now on, and forever… I'm in your hands."
The seven-colored and platinum radiance streaked through the blackness of the void.
"I see… so our end, our great ambition, is thwarted by you, Lemegeton…"
"It is not just me. It is by brilliant souls and bonds."
"—Then, I have no regrets. If we are blocked by a Princess, a King, and a Dragon… then our end was inevitable…"
『Baal, Extinguished.』
"Death → Void? No. Why / Entrust. Eternity is 'useless.' Lemegeton / Answer / Extinction. Sovereign… Sovereign… Sovereign…"
"Goodnight, Phenex. You won't… have to suffer anymore."
"Gratitude, apologies—Lemegeton, my death and rebirth are here—"
『Phenex, Requiem.』
"…Regrettable. To only now realize the potential and utility of humanity."
"I was taught as well. By every world, by every human. Their meaning and their value."
"—I am satisfied. If the soul we derived, the soul we found, believes so… then our insight was not in error."
"Yes. …Allow me to pay my respects to your wisdom."
"————Blessings upon that soul. Your answer is sufficient for our conclusion."
『Zepar, Vanished.』
"It is a pity. Such a pity. The ego I received from you will disappear so soon."
"…"
"—But it is a rare thing. 'To die while mourning one's life.' That is a conclusion that did not exist for me when I was part of Goetia. And—at the moment of my death, you are here."
"Yes. —You belong to no one but yourself."
"—My radiance, my Sovereign. Princess who witnessed my life. Seek joy. To color your soul. That is your mission as the one who gave me life, and it is the final wish of the life that is me."
『Andras, Deceased.』
"Faith, immortality, permanence, hope. None could save humanity. Your wish may end in vain. —Even so, you still go."
"Yes. Humanity and the world have only just begun. I believe that one day, humans will expand their perception far enough to see even those who exist outside the world."
"—I see. …You who said you would not forget us. You who gave us egos. May that key… become the key to truth in the future."
"…Thank you, Raum. Goodnight."
"…This is fine. This… is for the best."
『Raum, Liberation.』
"These fellows obtained quite a vivid proposition. Given time, they might have even found a future where they escaped this place."
"—There is no hierarchy when it comes to the state of one's heart, is there?"
"Indeed. And that is exactly why the humans who harbor such potential have value."
"—Yes. Gil."
"Leave the last pillar to me. You are a bit too soft to speak sense into someone who does nothing but shriek."
"S-Sorry! …I leave it to you, King of Heroes!"
And then…
"Why, why, why?! Lemegeton! Why do you remain so unshakable?! You should know, you should have seen it—that humanity has no such value!"
He screams. Flauros screams.
"It's nothing but painful memories! This kind of evolution, accompanied by so much pain, exists only here in this universe! This planet is insane! You all are insane! What possible value does this history have?!"
"Fool. The moment you harbored that doubt, you already had your answer."
"—! You are…!"
"A "doubt" is something held by those who harbor an answer deep within. What you truly desire is affirmation and understanding. —Long ago, I saw the same things you did."
——…
"But Aia's conclusion and mine are different. You had the eyes to see all, yet you saw nothing. You witnessed only sorrow. You were trapped by individual acts of malice and failed to see the pattern. It is you who do not know the value of life, King of Demon Gods."
—Value is something that changes. You can decide it, but the essence never changes.
"Indeed. The souls you deemed worthless—the humans—are the very ones who have you in checkmate."
—Try asking Rikka, our Master. That shall be the answer that leads to your final truth.
"Doubt… essence… the answer I… should know…?!"
[Remaining Demon God Pillars: Three. Repeating. Remaining Demon God Pillars: Three—]
[—We have not lost yet. The will to fight, the fist to commit evil—it still remains.]
"Senpa—!"
[It's okay. Get back, Mash.]
"Senpai…!"
[From here on—this is my fight.]
"—No, Senpai…! This is our fight! Therefore—!"
[Yeah. …Thank you, Mash.]
She stands and faces the enemy.
[Finally… finally, this moment has come. …I've really been waiting for this.]
Her anger boils over as she takes her stance.
[Right here—I'm throwing everything I have at you!!]
『—Mercy. Never forget that heart.』
(Thank you, Gramps. —So, for now—)
[My fury! The regrets of everyone who was destroyed!! Take this—GOETIAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!]
The Evil Dragon roars in a frenzy, and now—the final battle between Evil and Evil begins!!
-------------------------
If you enjoy this story, you can read + 70 advanced chapters on Patreon!
Webnovel will keep getting 1 new chapter every day but Patreon readers can stay far ahead.
Maybe it's not a big deal now… maybe it will be later.
[email protected]/Greyhounds
"And If you're enjoying it, drop a Power Stone for me!"