"I'll either save you… or kill you."
Nanashi leapt forward, Zanpakutō in hand, and slowly knelt in front of her.
Shlick.
The blade sank into Betty's chest, piercing clean through her back.
She closed her eyes gently.
Welcoming death with quiet resignation.
The end—wasn't that what she truly desired?
Nanashi withdrew his bloodless blade, rose to his feet, and turned toward the door.
"From this moment on," he said, "you're free. Live for yourself."
And then, he walked away.
Suddenly, Betty's eyes flew open.
"I'm not dead!"
Only now did she realize—her heart hadn't been pierced.
Confused, she replayed his last words in her mind.
There is no freedom unless I'm killed…
As long as the contract remains, I'm still bound…
The contract…
Betty stood up abruptly, staring in disbelief at her hands.
Her crystal-like eyes trembled. "The contract… it's gone…"
Not long after—
Emilia had recovered her spirits, and though their journey through the apocalypse was far from over, they wouldn't be leaving just yet.
After a grand dinner, the blonde head maid of the castle arranged rooms for them to rest.
Nanashi had just laid down, preparing for sleep—
Click.
The door creaked open.
In the silver moonlight, he saw two familiar figures: one in blue, one in pink.
"Rem? Ram?"
Nanashi sat up, puzzled. "What brings you here?"
Rem stepped forward and bowed deeply.
"Master, thank you for restoring my sister's horn."
So that was it.
He waved his hand casually. "Don't mention it. I'm fond of you two. It was a small thing."
Rem looked up. "It may seem small to Master, but for me… it's everything. You saved the only part of my heart that still needed saving."
Her voice carried an emotion deeper than mere gratitude.
Nanashi didn't interrupt. He simply listened as she began her story.
"Rem and my sister are the forbidden twin oni of the Oni tribe. From the moment we were born, the clan leader wanted us dead."
"But when we were born, my sister's horn shone with such overwhelming power that it stunned the clan leader. That was the only reason we were spared."
In oni tradition, each Oni child is born with two horns.
But twins?
They split the inheritance—each born with just one.
By law, they were to be abandoned.
Yet Ram's immense magical potential changed everything. It saved them both.
A small smile curled at Rem's lips. "That was the first time… my sister protected me."
"Ram had extraordinary talent with magic. I, on the other hand, was the complete opposite."
Despite being twins, they couldn't have been more different.
While Ram was praised and admired by the elders, Rem was left in her shadow.
Unable to surpass her sister, she chose instead to support her from behind.
"…Until that day, I didn't realize how despicable I truly was."
Rem lowered her head, fists clenched tightly.
She had long accepted that she would never catch up to Ram. The gap between them was too vast.
But then, the Witch Cult attacked their village.
And to protect Rem, Ram lost her only horn.
"My sister's horn was shattered…"
"And my first reaction… was to smile."
"At that moment, I thought: Finally. Her horn is broken."
Rem's guilt wasn't just because Ram lost her horn—
It was because she felt relief.
For the first time, she had a chance to stand on equal ground.
That single, fleeting thought—the weight of her childhood inferiority complex breaking free—had haunted her ever since.
Her voice trembled. "It was my sister who saved me… yet I had such vile, shameful thoughts."
"That's why I've always hated myself."
"It was a betrayal—not just of her, but of our bond as sisters."
Tears spilled down Rem's cheeks.
"…I am so despicable."
Twisted jealousy. Deep-seated guilt.
Perhaps it wasn't only human.
Nanashi gently leaned forward, wiping her tears with both hands.
His voice was soft. "And how do you feel now? Her horn has been restored. What's in your heart, Rem?"
A radiant smile broke through her sorrow.
"I'm… happy. Truly happy."
"I'm no longer jealous of my sister. Now that she has her horn again… I can finally say I'm happy for her. From the bottom of my heart."
Nanashi looked up, smiling slightly. "You heard all of that, didn't you, Ram? What do you think?"
"—Eh?!"
Rem spun around.
Ram stood in the doorway, silent until now.
"Onee-chan…"
Ram had heard everything.
And she understood.
"…Good grief."
With a sigh, Ram slowly walked toward her and wrapped her arms around her younger sister.
Her eyes, half-hidden beneath soft pink bangs, were filled with warmth and understanding.
"You really are my foolish little sister. How could I ever blame you?"
"Onee-chan…"
Rem broke down, sobbing in Ram's embrace.
Ram gently stroked her hair, whispering softly.
It was a tender, intimate moment—one that made Nanashi feel like an intruder.
Silently, he faded into the background.
After their tears dried, the sisters turned back to him.
They hadn't forgotten the reason they came.
They still had something to offer Nanashi.
[Ding! The Witch Factor in this world has been eliminated. Chaos has dissipated. The apocalypse… is over.]
[Ding! Nanashi has absorbed all Witch Factors, bringing an end to the world's chaos!]
[Bonus: 2,000,000 Doomsday Points awarded for completing the unknown objective!]
[Ding! Chaos Factors detected in auxiliary combatants.]
[Remaining participants awarded 100,000 bonus Doomsday Points each!]
Early morning.
A soft chime from the chat group woke Nanashi.
"Oh? Satella's mission is complete?"
"Yes, Master."
A clear voice echoed through the room. Shadows flickered on the floor—Satella had returned.
"Master, be careful! It's the Witch Cult!"
Though still unclothed, Ram and Rem quickly stepped in front of Nanashi, their senses sharp and alert.
Their sensitivity to the Witch's scent was uncanny.
But when they caught a proper look at Satella's face, both gasped in unison.
"Emilia-sama?!"
Nanashi gently wrapped his arms around them. "Relax. She's one of us. Let me introduce her—this is the Witch of Jealousy, Satella."
"Hello," Satella said softly.
Without her Jealousy persona, Satella's demeanor wasn't much different from Emilia's.
"Huh…?"
The Witch of Jealousy—Satella?!
That name was known across the world. The idea of her standing here, peacefully, was almost surreal.
Just as the tension began to settle—
Snap!
The door burst open.
"Nanashi! Mission's over!"
It was Lemuel, voice bright with excitement, clearly eager to share the good news.
But then she saw the room:
Three naked bodies—and one woman who looked just like Emilia.
Her face froze.
"Uhh…"
She scratched her cheek, visibly embarrassed. "Looks like I walked in at the worst time…"
Nanashi raised an eyebrow. "You think?"
"Bye!"
The door slammed shut behind her.
Nanashi sighed, rubbing his forehead. "Alright, let's get dressed first."
Later, Nanashi gave Ram and Rem a brief summary of what had happened with Satella and the other Witches.
The two sisters listened, stunned by his strength and influence.
When they finally stepped out of the room, all eyes turned toward them.
Some looked amused. Others, bashful. A few offered gentle, knowing smiles.
Nanashi acted like he didn't notice.
"Mission's complete. It's time to return."
"Eh? You're leaving already?" Emilia asked, her cheeks tinged with pink. There was clear reluctance in her voice. "You guys just got here…"
It was the first time she'd had so many companions. The thought of parting so soon pained her.
But she seemed steadier now, no longer shaken by Roswaal's betrayal.
"We're not gone forever," Nanashi replied. "My Ram Rem will remain with you for now. They'll return later."
He had already discussed it with them, and they had agreed willingly.
Emilia still needed allies—strong ones.
Saeko nodded. "Exactly. And Emilia, you're always welcome to visit our world too."
Emilia hesitated, then smiled, though her eyes shimmered with emotion. "Alright… I understand. Farewell, everyone."
Nanashi gave her a warm smile.
One by one, the others began to depart.
Before leaving the world, Nanashi sent a message to the group chat:
Nanashi: "Reinhard, Suho, our journey here is complete. We're heading back."
Suoh: "Understood. I'll return as well."
Reinhard: "Thank you—for everything."
With the return confirmed, Nanashi looked toward a dark corner of the hall and waved with a faint smile.
From the shadows beneath the staircase, Betty emerged. Her mouth opened, as if to speak—but before the words could leave her lips, Nanashi was gone.
"…!"
She stood there, stunned.
She had missed her chance.
"Don't be sad, Betty."
Puck appeared, fluttering over to gently pat her head.
"Brother Nanashi will come back."
As a contracted spirit, Puck already knew—Nanashi had broken the pact. Betty was free now.
"Next time, be brave. Say what you really want to say."
Betty looked up, courage welling in her crystal-clear eyes.
"…Next time, Betty will definitely say it!"