“You must… come back. Without getting hurt. Got it?”

 

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

 

“For sure.”

 

“And if for some reason we don’t come back, wait until the time is up. There’s no need to go through unnecessary deaths.”

 

“…Don’t say such ominous things!”

 

Looking at Tarra with a worried gaze, Niore neatly adjusted Venet’s crooked collar. In Niore’s eyes, they saw even more.

 

The blushing cheeks, trembling eyelids, hesitant movements of their hands, legs that seemed passively unstable, as if conscious of their own exposure, a posture that unconsciously pushed out their chest, the slightly lowered chain lingerie that intentionally wasn’t straightened, and the pink that bloomed in their pupils.

 

On the other hand.

 

The calm cheeks that were stiff with tension about the future, the subtle burden that felt closer than usual to Tarra, the gaze that descended to a few points as if starting to perceive the woman in front of them as an object of desire, but still an emotion that looked at her more as a relative than a lover, and the sparkling star in their pupils.

 

Once all that information was contained within Niore’s eyes.

 

“Hey, Venet. When we come back, I have something to say…”

 

Niore put their hands between Venet’s side and arm and crossed their arms. And with force, they pulled Venet closer. Venet’s upper arm muscle lightly pressed against Niore’s side chest. Tarra’s pupils witnessed the complex chemical reaction happening.

 

A benevolent gaze that quietly mixed in with the gaze that looked at their comrade, accompanied by a slight hint of doubt and jealousy.

 

I love you, Venet.

 

Niore said with their mouth shape.

 

“…Yeah.”

 

A feeling like their heart being pricked. Niore obstructed Tarra, but they themselves couldn’t understand why they were acting like this. Driven by an anxious impulse, they half-instinctively blocked the way.

 

On the path they were taking to fix everything. Niore pondered amidst the confusion they were experiencing for the first time. They tightened their arms around Venet.

 

The path leading to the meteor crater, where countless people had offered themselves as sacrifices, was filled with silence and tranquility. The reason was simple: there was no one left to scream.

 

Upside-down legs jutted out from the ground. Some bodies had merged with the trees and coordinates, becoming one with them. Various grotesque forms of death littered the path.

 

I had seen many corpses before.

 

Living in a world where monsters roamed, wars broke out, and individuals could challenge nations, blood and violence were not unfamiliar.

 

I had seen corpses that died in more horrifying ways. When hit by an ogre’s club, a human body literally exploded. But even though those forms of death were terrible, they were not grotesque.

 

Tap. Tap. Tap.

 

A faint tremor could be felt from beneath the ground. The slight vibration traveled through the soles of my shoes, up to my toes, and reached my brain. The tremor, which I wouldn’t have normally noticed, felt particularly pronounced today.

 

Perhaps it was someone who had been randomly teleported.

 

Someone who was buried down there, screaming for help and pounding the ground. The assumption that there might be countless people mixed with concrete below.

 

It created a creepy feeling, blurring the line between reality and fantasy.

 

As if trying to avert his gaze from the dark truth, Bennett spoke up.

 

“…Is it possible to prepare the magic circle?”

 

[Yes. We will use the Isark magic circle as it is. And we plan to use the Goddess’s crystal as the power source.]

 

“It’s probably partially damaged. We destroyed some of the subsidiary magic circles while walking around.”

 

[We might need some reinforcement, including that.]

 

Click. Click.

 

The two of us, walking along the empty street, discussed our plans for the future. Bennett decided to handle any interference from fanatics, and if there was insufficient output, we would use the bodies in the crater.

 

It was disrespectful to the deceased, but it was for the sake of saving the world. I hoped they would understand.

 

We didn’t mention what would happen if the ritual failed.

 

On the other hand, Neo-re was still wrestling with unresolved concerns in the corner of her consciousness. Both Bennett and Tara were good people, showing clear kindness to both sides.

 

Nevertheless, there was something a little different.

 

When Bennett and Tara were close, trying to get even closer, somewhere in her heart kept tingling uncomfortably. So, unintentionally, I ended up obstructing.

 

When I return after finishing work, I have to apologize to Tara. Neo-re thought so.

 

Even though she had long sensed Tara’s affection, what troubled Neo-re was the darkness in her own heart. It was because she couldn’t face herself under the weight of guilt.

 

If there had been a little space and time, if there had been a moment to look in the mirror, the observant girl would surely have confronted her own feelings.

 

The situation was bad. She was anxious, facing a life-threatening fight.

 

At that moment, a star spoke softly.

 

—–

 

In the world, there is an emotion that can only be had with one person.

 

Very small and precious, occasionally exerting tremendous power, sometimes an irresistible and lethal poison, and also a chalice providing endless happiness.

 

It’s love.

 

Surprised? Don’t worry, Neo-re. As long as you don’t blush and tremble your delicate body, you won’t reveal that nasty inner self to Bennett.

 

Ah, I understand your surprise at the sudden vulgar remark. But it’s the truth. Look back. Tell me who has been constantly interfering with Tara’s confessions.

 

Neo-re.

 

Even if you claim not to have known… You thought you didn’t want to be taken away, right? You unconsciously reached out your hand. The unconscious mind contains a lot of information. This is what you desired. To prevent Tara from grasping love.

 

And to take Tara’s place.

 

Tara is a beautiful woman, accustomed to revealing her body. How many superior points she has over you with her delicate figure, and I can’t count. There aren’t enough fingers.

 

But for now, she has lost her sanctity and become an empty shell. This is the opportunity. Yes, Bennett needs strength, and you have it. Of course, it doesn’t mean to kill Tara.

 

How could someone do such a thing? Killing an innocent person to gain love?

 

To save the world, one may kill innocent people, but it’s certainly not permissible to gain love. Yes, I respect your contradiction, Niole.

 

You’ve cut off your conscience for yourself. And, in my opinion, even friendship seems to be soon sacrificed. A pitiful, failure-ridden person trying to gain love──.

 

—–

 

Thud.

 

Niole struck her forehead with a magical book.

 

From a certain moment, after a small sigh escaped her heart, starlight inevitably seeped in. And using all sorts of words, it stirred up her emotions.

 

In her mind, Niole pictured a sapling. When you raise the garden shears and make a crisp sound, the tangled branches are cut off, screaming. After enduring such a long time of agony, a beautiful sapling is completed.

 

She felt something similar about herself.

 

Cutting off one by one for the sake of her goal. Discarding values that were once deemed important, one by one, in order. Urging was the voice of starlight, but the choice was hers.

 

To be of help to the group. To avoid repeating failures. She cut off what needed to be cut.

 

However, if even after discarding so much, she ended up failing. If only the useless branches were cut off and left behind, becoming a pitiful sapling. If she were completely swallowed by that voice, what would become of herself?

 

She was afraid.

 

Niole reached out and took the hand of the slightly ahead walking Vernet. Vernet turned around once, without a word, entrusted her hand.

 

Niole’s feelings were written on Vernet’s palm.

 

[I’m scared.]

 

“What for?”

 

[Fear of failing. That my small mistake might bring about the destruction of the world.]

 

“It’s not your fault.”

 

Niole’s steps came to a halt. Vernet also stopped in response.

 

“Is it really okay for me to think like that?”

 

“⋯⋯⋯⋯.”

 

“You know, Venet. I’m being worn down. Maybe because of the magic book… Or maybe I always had these dark thoughts inside me. I used to want to save everyone, but now I don’t. One person is enough.”

 

As Venet tried to say something, Niore pressed his index finger against Venet’s lips, and spoke with his mouth. “Tell me more, please.”

 

“Now, maybe, I can even kill innocent people. For the sake of someone more precious and valuable. But sometimes, I feel strange about being that kind of person. Venet, do you feel the same? Have I changed a lot?”

 

“You…”

 

“I know. And I know that I will continue to change. But how much will I change… That, I don’t know. Venet. Maybe at the end of this erosion, I’ll become a great villain.”

 

Niore blinked his eyelids slowly as he looked into Venet’s eyes. In the space where justice was torn apart by the wall of reality, only the affectionate friendship adorned with guilt and gratitude remained.

 

The affection that had been growing little by little since the moment he was shot while trying to cover up his own mistake. And the bond that had been built during their journey together. Fighting together, grieving together, and laughing together at the same table with Tara.

 

The starlight infiltrated the small gap between them. It whispered that in order to possess Venet, even the friendship they held in their hands would need to be severed. That’s why.

 

Before his weak self stumbled and even thrust a knife at his friend.

 

“So… Before I fall into a dark place. Before it’s too late, will you hold my hand?”

 

“⋯⋯I will.”

 

“Link your finger with mine. Now.”

 

Niore smiled faintly like moonlight and extended his pinky finger. Venet linked his finger and made a promise.

 

Niore decided to make this promise his lighthouse. Though the whispers of wicked rumors still echoed in his ears. Though it tempted him, saying that he could just throw away his heart and then he wouldn’t get hurt.

 

Just like when he saved Tara, when he couldn’t hold on any longer and collapsed.

 

He believed that Venet would also save him.

 

After the promise, Niore walked ahead with a renewed spirit. The weight on his shoulders felt lighter than ever before. He felt like everything was going to work out fine.

 

They arrived at the meteor crater in this way.

 

Activating their consciousness, expelling foreign influences, saving the world.

 

“I’ve been waiting.”

 

From Noble mtl dot com

 

Blocking the path in front of Benett and Niore, who arrived at the crater for the sake of a single mission, was the leader of the Twilight Sect, cloaked in silver.

 

—–

 

The leader, who had been sitting on a chair made from a family’s corpses, brushed off the dust on his buttocks and stood up.

 

“How…”

 

“If you ask how I knew, the gods told me. That heretics would come here and disrupt the advent. And indeed, they are all-powerful. What they say comes true.”

 

“…”

 

Benett drew his longsword. Looking around, there were no other fanatics in sight. Not even civilians with their lives still intact. Sacrifices, none.

 

The leader’s barrier activated in exchange for the lives of the surrounding sacrifices.

 

Then, the current leader is… defenseless. Surely that must be the case.

 

Instincts as an animal rang alarm bells. They had to escape from here immediately. They were not something a human could handle. They couldn’t win.

 

The leader looked at Benett, who was sweating cold, and lightly applauded.

 

“Did you notice? You have quite a keen sense.”

 

“…What have you done?”

 

“The gods have embraced my body. Truly… a blessed event. I am with them.”

 

Thud, thud.

 

The veins in the leader’s neck swelled as if they were about to burst. And indeed, they burst under the pressure. However, the blood did not spurt out.

 

Click, click.

 

The wounds, as if rewinding time, have reverted to their original state.

 

The sight of the body bursting open in various places, then healing and repeating the process, was akin to watching the dance of stars. As the body crumpled and repaired in sync with the heartbeat, its form gradually distorted.

 

“2%… That’s what they said. Are you watching? They are saying, Can they block it?!”

 

Thunk, thunk, thunk, thunk.

 

The grotesquely swollen figure resembled a blood giant with four tentacles. Like a warning from the goddess’s crystal, it flickered urgently.

 

“…We must overcome this! Without its shield, attacks will land!”

 

[……….!!]

 

“…Niole!!”

 

Benedict, turning to Niole amidst the spine-chilling dread, witnessed her abdomen pierced by a spear made of bones and muscles.

 

It was a spell Niole often used, drawing power from the cosmic spirits. However, the entity that granted her strength did not extend its protection to the monstrous being before her.

 

As Niole, attempting to assist Benedict with her bone spear, found herself pierced by her own spell.