The battle with Seiju has become more and more intense.

　For the holy tree, I'm probably about the size of a fly, such as an arogant.

　The roots and branches of the trees attacked me as if they were chasing me away with their hands.

''Luxion, it's time for me to take down the Holy Tree?

''The emergency repairs are done here as well. We've also prepared a countermeasure against the "holy tree" that has captured the Ideal. --I'm ready whenever you are.

More importantly, is Noel going to make it?

"I'm afraid it will be difficult to find out.

'--I really don't like it here. I don't have good memories of it.

　When Luxion fired the missile, it hit the Holy Tree and burned its limbs.

　The missile Luxion had just prepared to counter the holy tree was highly effective or suffering.

　That was enough to make the earth shake and cause damage on the ground.

　When Luxion's main gun aimed at the Holy Tree--.

''I'll leave the finishing touches to you. If the head is destroyed, the regeneration will stop as well, so please decide with a single blow.''

That's easy for you to say.

The master can do it.

　He punched a hole in the chest area with his main gun and went to the head of the suffering Seiki. As it was, he swung the large sword down on the large one eye.

　The sword of light extended to chase after the sword muscle a little later, and it passed vertically through Holy Tree's head as it was.

''Get it over with!''

　As the round head is belatedly cut in two vertically, red liquid flows out like a spurt - slowly falling down as the holy tree kneels on the earth.

　A sound like wood shattering echoed around them, and Sacred Tree's body crumbled and splinters fell in a flurry.

　Black smoke was emitted in the surroundings.

　In the midst of all this, he discovers the Idea's child that seems to have been taken in by the Holy Tree.

''I need to talk to you.''

　Catching him in the arrogants, it seems that Ideal can still talk to him.

'You half-witted reincarnation. You've ruined my plans. My plan to use you guys to take back this world--they failed to deliver on their promise.

　The audio was bad and there was some noise in the background.

Oh, yeah. 'I'm sorry to hear that. It's bad enough that you're fighting with Luxion. He's a relentless opponent.

''-you and he trust each other. That's why I couldn't take the short end of the stick. You're too dangerous.

　What are they saying?

　As I hurried back to Luxion, I found Einhorn close at hand.

　I jumped down from Aroganz, and Creare was ready to receive Noel.

　He was bringing in a medical pod - a capsule bed.

'Hurry!　You're in danger!

　A flustered Clare doesn't even mention Ideal.

　Is Ideale bitter, or is he bitter?

"If it weren't for you two, the plan would have worked.

'It's your fault for losing to the extent of us. Your plan would have failed at some point anyway.

"You didn't tell me there was another artificial intelligence. You didn't want to be a part of this whole thing!

　Luxion appeared in the hangar with his escort robot, wary of Ideal.

''I didn't trust you. That's all.''

"You're just another pawn in the hands of the newcomers!

　Aroganz grabbed him, and the Ideaal, unable to move, had a red one - a broken lens.

　As Noel was brought in, Clairé told him to lay it in the capsule and quickly checked its condition.

　Livia was holding a sapling of the Holy Tree.

'Rion-san, here.'

'Noel used to hold her a lot, you know. Let's keep her by your side.

　He takes it and approaches Noel.

　The treatment begins immediately, but Claire--'

'Magic is amazing. You could have been dead long ago.''

　I stand beside Noel and place the holy tree sapling close to him.

'I'm sorry. I didn't make it in time.

　Noel smiled painfully.

'I'm sorry I bothered you. I'm sorry. And can I ask you one thing?

What?

I liked Leon. So tell me what you thought of me. --Rion doesn't lie, does he?　So tell me the truth.

　It's a terrible thing to lie to Noel now.

'Yeah, I loved it too. I love you.

　There were both Livia and Angel at my side, but I replied matter-of-factly.

　Noel laughed.

'-- Liar.'

◇

　Ideal heard Noel's voice.

'Leon is a liar, isn't he? I thought you didn't tell lies?'

It's the truth. It's all right. --third. Noel was my third favorite. So I'll keep my third one open for you forever.

Really, Leon is an outsider, isn't he?

'Right?　I won't deny it.

It's just like Rion. --I don't know, I've had enough. I could have been more by your side, even if you were a third--

　As Noel tries to catch his breath, the sapling at his side begins to glow.

　It shines strongly, and then - the blue leaves turn brown and shrivel up as if they were dead.

　Looking at the rapidly dying figure, Ideal was sure.

(The Holy Tree wants to save this child?)

''What happened!''

　Seeing Noel enveloped in the gentle light that leaked out of the sapling, Rion hurriedly checked with Clairé.

''Life force is flowing from the sapling into this child.

Will it help?

　Angel packs up, but Clairé shakes one eye to the side.

''No. If only we had been able to treat it earlier - or if the equipment was one more grade higher, we could have managed it.''

　Luxion agreed.

'If my equipment doesn't work, then there's only one way to go above that. You won't have time to look for it, and it's unlikely to be left.''

　While looking at the scene where everyone was depressed, Ideal thought he could hear a familiar voice.

''Ideal is a liar, isn't he?''

　The clear liquid inside spilled out of Ideal's cracked lens like tears.

　It was as if she was crying.

''Ah, ah--''

　The scene he recalls - or rather, the replayed scene - leads Ideal to conclude that Noel must not be allowed to die.

　So--.

''--Luxion, I'm going to send you the data now. There's a top grade medical capsule at that location. I will also give you the password. Use it.

　All eyes were on Ideal.

　They seemed to be suspicious, including Rion.

'What do you mean by that?　Is this some kind of trap?

'I won't do anything that inefficient. This is so - it's self-satisfying. If you doubt it, you can leave it alone. I just don't recommend it, though.'

　Luxion is advising Leon.

'I'll send a drone to you at once.

If there's a chance, let's do it.

　Creare looked at Ideal.

'You, what did you really want to do?　It doesn't make sense to me?

'--I wanted to keep my promise. I've used everything available to me to make that happen.

　Serge, who was here, approached Ideal.

'You--you've been using me!　Me to do this!

　Ideal paused for a moment, then

(--pity.) You don't understand how stupid you were. But let's make them hate me for the last time, shall we? (I must return the favor a little.)

　Ideal lightly taunts Serge to lighten his frustration towards him, if only slightly.

''Yes, that's right. You've served as my puppet.

　Rion didn't speak to Serge, who looked frustrated.

　He held Noel's hand.

'If the story about the medical capsule is true, I'll think about you.

　Ideal's voice was laughing.

'Are you going to forgive me?　I know, it's silly. But - I wonder if I would have done things differently if I'd met you sooner?　I'm jealous of Luxion. It's just - unfortunately, that's as far as I'm going to go - the body - the features - the I--I--I don't know.

(Folks, I was a liar after all.) --I'm sorry.)

　The light disappeared from one of Ideal's eyes.

◇

　The earth where the holy tree fell.

　Approaching what had been a decaying holy tree was Lelia, who landed in a small boat.

　Clement is at her side.

''Lelia-sama, I'm glad Noel-sama is safe.

What's the point?

　If you look around you, you can see the wasteland.

　Smoke rises from every corner, and fighting and rescue are still taking place.

　The six great nobles, including the young and promising Fernand, as well as Lambert and three others, were killed.

　Only the head of the Barriel family--Erik's father and Arberg--were left.

　Only, both of them are seriously injured.

　And the Holy Tree that had supported the Republic until now was lost.

　Touching it with her hand, Lelia cries out.

''Emile, how did this happen? Why--''

　The holy tree collapses and a figure is there as the sand dances up.

　To his surprise, a white-tinted Emile emerged from the decaying and crumbling remains of the Holy Tree.

　His body was made of wood, and it made a creaking sound when he moved.

　Lelia runs up to it and hugs it gently with both hands.

''--Emile.''

　Just then, Clément looked at Emile's face and shouted.

'Step away, Lady Lelia!

What?

　Emile's arm pierced Lelia's belly.

　Emile smiled an ugly smile.

We'll be together forever. We'll be together forever. We can be a tree together. We'll be a holy tree together. And this time we will destroy them.

Why? Why?

　The arm that pierced Lelia's stomach swallowed her up.

'No, don't, Emile,'

'I'm not giving you to Serge. You're mine and mine alone!　It's your fault. You left me for Serge.　This country is ruined because of him. It's ruined because you didn't choose me!

　Emile, who had gone mad, was smiling happily as he was bathed in Lelia's blood.

　Clement approached and tried to pull her away, but he couldn't help himself with human strength.

　When Lelia tried to be swallowed up by Emile--.

''-- Lelia, what the hell are you?''

　--Emile's behavior was strange.

　His face, which was tinged with madness, slowly turned into a look of surprise - he was back to his original Emile.


◇

　--a month later.

　A large crowd of spectators had gathered in the square.

'Don't let the Raults get away with it!

"Destroy the six noblemen who have been deceiving us!

"A demon who uses the sacred tree!

　I watched the scene from the building and saw Mr. Alberg standing on the execution table.

　Luxion floated at his side.

　He was looking at the Republic around his right shoulder.

''It's a sad thing. Because the Republic will move on to the future by turning Arberg, who had the future of the country in mind more than anyone else, into an evil person.''

　Someone had to take the blame.

　And the reason why Seiki had gone out of control was all Alberg-san's fault.

　--Alberg-san was the one who bore all the blame.

''I thought he was a russian boss, but he was a rather talkative old man. If you just look at the results, though, it looks like Mr. Alberg-san is the last boss.

''The master is an old man inside, you know. Wasn't he easy to talk to?''

　I'm already a bit of an a la forty on the inside.

　He died in his first few years in society and has been here for seventeen years--huh?　Is he over 40 already?

　To the crowd gathered at the execution site, Mr. Alberg said nothing.

　He was just imposing.

''Master, it's not a very interesting thing to watch,''

'I thought I'd take a look. But still, it's like the Middle Ages to make a spectacle out of an execution.

'Public executions would have taken place even in the Master's time, wouldn't they?　In the Master's time, it would have been practiced outside of Japan. It is recorded that it was popular for entertainment in the first place?'

'What?　No, uh, yeah. That's okay, though.

He got away, didn't he?

Shut up!　It wasn't possible in Japan. I don't know much about foreign countries or anything!

　I don't enjoy executions as a form of entertainment, though.

　As Mr. Alberg was set to the guillotine, the call to "kill" rang out.

　The square was insane.

'--what could have gone wrong?

'She said she was eager to protect her son, Serge. Master, are you sure you are ready to deal with Serge?　Isn't it also a problem that nothing is being done?'

Not interested. --I'm asking for a favor from Mr. Alberg, so I don't mind keeping you alive, at least?

　The crowd cheered as the figure on the death row went up.

''And yet, Lelia is very popular as a priestess. A new sapling priestess - one of the few hopes for the Republic?''

I'd like to hear it. I'd like to hear it once. How does it feel to be a hero, to put all their responsibilities on Mr. Alberg?　You know.

"Neither of you find it amusing, I can tell you that.

　Of course not. -- if I had been happy and relieved, I would have killed him.

　Lelia read out Mr. Alberg's crimes.

　The actions against me were all done by Mr. Alberg on his own.

　Lelia's voice is trembling.

　She had a look on her face like she couldn't understand the crowd that was making a lot of noise while people were about to die.

'Isn't it funny, for Lelia, that tomorrow is my own day?

I'm sure that's scary. 'I'm sure you must be terrified,' he said, 'because the future is a long way off when you think of the Republic from now on. You must not be so stupid that you can't imagine when this madness is coming at you.'

I know you were stupid enough to get yourself into this mess.

'Oh, you know that statement is going to come back to you?

Shut up, May.

　I lost the holy tree.

　I got a new sapling, but it doesn't supply as much energy as the Holy Tree.

　The amount of magic stones mined seems to be visibly decreasing, and there is not a single bright spot in the world.

　Eventually, the complaints would be taken care of by the surviving Serge and Lelia.

　When the sentence is carried out, I can hear the applause.

　I looked at my right hand.

''What's wrong?''

I'm a lot lighter on the trigger, you know? It's another step up the wrong ladder.

　I was afraid that I was getting used to all these things.

　That time - when Livia and Marie stopped me - I felt it.

'I don't think I had a choice. Besides, the blame lies with the Republic.

I know. So I abandoned him.

　Only the interests of the kingdom - destroying the holy tree that was in the way, and sinking the Ideal as well. Thanks to that, the current Republic has lost a lot of its power.

　Cooperation, non-interference - if those two things were the case, we wouldn't have pushed them to this point.

　We had no choice but to destroy them because they were hostile to us.

　I'll never act for the Republic again.

　Looking out the window at the square, I saw Lelia looking at Mr. Alberg's body with tears streaming down her face.

　There is a knock on the door and Julius comes in as I allow him to enter.

'It's about time, Baltophart,'

Yeah, okay. More importantly, you've been a big help this past month. I'm sorry I let you help me.

　Defeating the insect-shaped monsters that have spread throughout the Republic.

　The rest of the time, he helped me with various tasks, including rescuing people.

That's fine. And I heard that the kingdom has come to an agreement.

'Oh, yeah. Was Roland laughing at me when I lost?

　Julius must have been laughing as he turned away.

'- I've been informed that you seemed to enjoy listening to the story of how you lost to Serge. Mu, I feel sorry for you as my son.

I don't mind. I'm just enjoying getting back at him right now, aren't I?

You really do have a good character, don't you?

　I move away from the window.

Well, let's get back to it.

　Today is the day we say goodbye to the Republic.