145 Lion selection




 A port floating near the royal capital.

 I had come to see off the imperial delegation, and I was facing Finn.

 Kurosuke is wary of me.

''Buddy, you're sure you're okay with this?''

 And the same goes for Luxion.

"You've made the wrong choice, Master.

 We shouldn't be able to get each other's cheat items in May.

 I showed Finn a shrug.

'Well, you have a lot to say, but the next time we meet, we're both enemies. I don't care if you lose.

 A pale Finn returns my flippant remark.

"Say it. Well, if I win, I'm gonna make a plea for your life.

 I hold out my hand.

 Finn squeezes it tightly.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry, but I can't give you this. I can't take you up on your offer.

Yeah. --I knew it.

 He offered to provide the technology to supply the Empire with magical elements.

 But Finn's decision didn't change.

 Even if he provided the technology, Mia would spend her entire life on a hospital bed.

 That was the limit of what even Luxion and the others could do.

 And that, Finn couldn't accept it.

 There was no way he could accept it.

 He knew that he would definitely stop her from thinking about his sister in her previous life.

'-It was fun. I'm not going to lie. We didn't know anything about each other - and we were trying to have a good time.

Yeah.

 As I'm talking to Finn, Mia comes in.

''Oh, um, duke-sama!

What is it?

 I'll respond with a smile.

 Because Mia doesn't know the facts.

 She couldn't show such a cold attitude to her.

''Well, um, Erika-sama's sick, but she's fine, right?''

-- Oh, no problem. Luxion and the others will fix you up in no time.

'Good. I was anxious to get home so quickly that I didn't get a chance to say goodbye. I've come so far to be your friend.

 --I shouldn't have let her near me.

 At least if she had a terrible personality, she wouldn't have been so distressed.

'I'll make sure Erica knows that. --Be well.

Yes!

 Mia, with her big smile on her face, was dazzling - and I hated her.

 I wish he was more annoying.

 The boy knight calls out to Mia.

''Your Highness Mirialis, it's time to set sail.

'Yes, sir! Um, Duke - no, Mr. Rion, thank you for everything you've done for me!

 As I smile and wave at Mia, Finn turns his back to me.

''--Rion, goodbye.''

Yeah, bye.

 I smiled at them both.



 The rooftop of the royal palace.

 It was Marie who took Erica out of her wheelchair.

The weather is so nice today. --It's a shame that Erica, Mia and the others can't come back. It's a shame, because we were hoping to have fun again next year.

 Erica, looking paler than before, replies to Marie with a smile.

'Mom, were you planning to play after graduation?'

'I feel like staying on. It's so much fun to be at the school with Erica. But why is it that I've suddenly become so ill? And Cleare wouldn't give me any details either.

 Erica knew why.

'--I wonder why?'

(I'm sure your uncle is aware of this.)

'Erica, are you in pain? Will you ask your brother to let me use the medical capsule again?

You'll be fine. I'm used to being in the hospital.

 For most of his retirement, he lived in the hospital.

 When he finished working, he got sick straight away.

 After that, I was in bed for the rest of my life.

(I'm sure this was a blessing from God. Because I got to see my mom - and my uncle - and they took care of me.)

 Every day was like a reward for Erica.

 There had been some bad times, but she was so happy now.

(Once I'm alone, everything will be fine. And that's fine. (That's the way this world works.)

 Erica looked up at the sky and saw the airship of the Imperial Mission in the distance.

 She walked outside and waited there for a while.

''Mia and the others, is there any trouble?''

'I don't know. Maybe the diplomats are confused because they're pulling out, too.

Something was going on, wasn't it?

 Tensions between the two countries have become tense, partly because of this event.

 Marie didn't realize it.

 The rooftop door opened and Rion appeared.

 Elijah was there as well.

''Erica, the Duke has come to visit you.

 Behind Elijah, who is somewhat confused, Rion has a taut smile on his face.

(-- I'm sorry for bothering your uncle to the end.)

 Marie pushed the wheelchair and approached Leon.

'Hey, I'm kind of afraid of the atmosphere. Erica is an invalid, so if you're irritated, you'll have to wait until later - oh, brother?

 Leon took out his pistol and spoke to Erica, ignoring Marie.

'Bad girl. You've been cheating on me, haven't you?'

 Erica nodded.

'I'm sorry. But if you knew, would you have stopped?

You're a really bad boy. I don't know who you're supposed to be.

 My own life and the lives of the Emperor's people.

 I don't need to weigh it.

 Erica is an ancestor with the blood of the old human race in her veins.

 I couldn't have predicted how Rion would act if I told him the truth.

(If I alone was sacrificed, everything would come full circle.)

 After completing the third game of that maiden game, Erica searched the internet for information.

 What was written there was an article about the weapons and worldview that appeared in the game.

 In fact, it said that there was a conflict between the old humans and the new humans in the past, and the weapons were a negative legacy left behind by both sides.

 Surprisingly, the series continued and the setting seemed to carry over.

 And Erica was a person of deep old human blood who was at odds with Mia.

 It was written that the reason for disliking Mia was that she wanted to include a connection between the old humans and the new humans.

 It's a setup that doesn't appear in the game.

'I'm glad it turned out the way it did. I don't know what would have happened if I told the two of you the truth.

 Leon may have attacked the Empire.

 That's just not good enough.

''-- Personally, I appreciate your kindness. But did you see this coming?

 Leon turns the muzzle of his gun on Erica.

 Elijah starts to panic.

'Oh, brother!'

 The same goes for Marie.

 She stepped in front of Erica and extended her hand.

'What are you thinking!

 Leon has a serious look in his eyes.

'Retreat. It's the way to fix everything.'

 Erica thinks about Rion's actions.

(It looks like there are reincarnations over there, and maybe my killing is a condition for avoiding war? (If that's the case, I guess it's over.)

 The Empire knows that Rion adores Erica.

 They may have pressured the kingdom to do something about Erica because they are afraid of her coming to the edge.

 It's about Leon.

 He figured that he had decided to take Erica's life in order to avoid a war.

(Don't bother your uncle to the end.)

 Dizzy, Erica thought to herself.

'--Okay. If you're going to shoot me, it's not so bad.

 Marie turned back to Erica.

'Hey, what are you talking about! Of course it's not good enough!

 But right after Marie turns around, Rion opens his mouth.

'-- Erica, you're a bad boy. But I'm an even worse one.

No, he's a good--

 Before he could finish, Rion pulled the trigger and the bullet hit Erica.

 Blood spurted out and splattered onto Marie's face.

 Marie was trembling as she touched it with her finger.

 She immediately blocked the spot where Erica had been shot with her hand.

(--not as painful as I thought)

Erica! Erikaaaa!

I'm sorry, Mom. I knew this was coming from the beginning. I'm sorry about Elijah. And I'm sorry, Uncle-- Uncle?

 Rion was smiling thinly.

 Erica's smile made it seem as if Rion had been broken.



 Imperial Missions.

 On the deck of the airship, Finn bent down from holding onto the railing.

'Buddy, there's no oversight of those guys. Leon has kept his word.''

Okay.

 Finn, in tears, thanks Leon.

'Thank you, Leon. --I'm sorry. I'm so sorry.

 Brave gives me a sad look.

'I think my partner is wrong. But--I'm on my partner's side until the end.'

Sorry, Kurosuke. I'm sorry I put you in an uncomfortable position with my idiot partner.

"You may not call me Brave, but you're the best buddy I've ever had. The best buddy I've ever had with a wielder. I promise you that.

 Brave has had many different holders.

 He had a master newcomer who was fighting the old humans and had a master.

 After that, the user was replaced, and when the war was over, it had fallen asleep.

 The one who dug it up was Finn.

I'm not going to be able to get out of this mess. So I'm the only one who's going to stay with you to the end.

I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It was my decision, you know? I can't keep crying about it.

"Buddy, there's a 50/50 chance I can beat that guy. Don't forget that.

Yeah, I know.

 Finn couldn't force himself to defend Mia in the kingdom.

 It was not a good idea to fight in Leon's territory.

 Finn could be let off the hook.

"--Lion, I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I won't be joining forces with you.

 Brave informs Finn.

"Partner, it's Mia.

 Finn wipes a tear away.

'Sir Knight, Mr. Boo! --Oh, what? Sir Knight, could it be that you were crying?

 Finn forced a smile.

'No, I just got some crap in my eyes.

'Don't lie to me. You have red around your eyes. It's hard for the knight-sama to say goodbye, after all.

I guess so.

Don't worry. We'll see you again, I'm sure. Yes! Now we can invite them to the Empire. Let's invite the dukes, and Erica-sama, too.

 With an innocent Mia in front of him, Finn wasn't sure what to do.

'Mia--do you want to get along with Erica and the others?

 Nodding her head, Mia had a look on her face as to why she was asking the obvious.

''Isn't it obvious. Let's see, I can no longer attend the school, but I have a new goal. I'm going to be a bridge of friendship between the kingdom and me. Since you are a princess, you can do that, right? Hey!

 Finn nodded at Mia, who gave him an expectant look.

'Yes. Someday - I hope it happens.