――A comforting world.
Empty, yet full of everything, a pure white world.
Is this... heaven?
Yet, why can’t I remember my last moment?
Then as I was holding my head in my hand, someone gently placed their hand on my shoulder.
"――Yuki."
"……Aira…!"
In this pure white world, the crimson beauty, Aira Verfane Quatronix, stood out.
Though she looked calm, she couldn’t hide her smile, and her cheeks were lighting up.
Just being able to talk to me like this made her so happy, and I couldn’t help but smile too.
"Aira, I…"
"Yes, I know."
"…!"
"However, it’s still too early to give up."
As she spoke, she drew out a crimson sword with a soft "clink."
Stepping back slightly and brandishing Ashkelon, Aira looked down and let her tears fall freely.
"—That’s right. Yuki-san must seize our future."
Then, Rain Margarett, the one I knew, appeared and came close to me.
It’s warm and cozy.
This warmth, this normality, the everyday life I took for granted, I…
"—Ugh…!?"
Then, Aira slashed my chest with Ashkelon.
There was no blood.
Rain hurriedly set up a magic circle with one hand and pressed it against my wound, pouring something into me.
A surging—energy.
A rising sense of courage.
At the same time, I realized the other gifts I had been given and understood what the two had entrusted to me.
"…………"
However, to do that would mean destroying the memories I have with these two.
―—I want to continue living in an ideal world, holding onto these gentle memories in my heart.
I thought so. I couldn’t help but think so.
But there is something even more important.
If things stay as they are, no one will be saved.
The meaning of the three of us—Aira, Rain, and I—fighting so hard together would become meaningless.
"It’s okay, Yuki. We’ll definitely be able to laugh together again."
Aira smiled, shrugging her shoulders shyly. Her smile was so dazzling.
I will place my faith in the future and in Aira.
I close my eyes.
Channeling the overflowing power they gave me—I find the spiral staircase.
I reach out my hand.
More, keep going.
No, even more, further inside――.
"To that day."
Aiming for 'that day' which I found by groping blindly, I pull it towards me with a firm tug.
I grasp it with both hands.
And then――I――.
※ ※ ※
The moment I came to, I found myself walking down the school hallway. I immediately staggered and placed my hand on the wall.
―—Bright sunlight streaming in from outside the window.
―—My plain, spotless uniform-clad self was reflected in the clear window glass.
Before long, a noisy crowd of students came from the direction ahead.
Unable to remain calm, I seized the shoulder of an unknown person and asked loudly.
"What is today’s date…? What month and day is it today!?"
Did it work?
"…Huh? It’s… May 13th…?"
A student with waxed black hair regarded me with what appeared to be a look of sympathy.
After expressing a brief thank you, I let go.
Then, the crowd, talking among themselves about how "he’s weird," left me behind and disappeared somewhere.
I look at my palm.
――.
My body is brimming with energy, and my thoughts are clear and sharp.
There’s a slight stiffness in my body, but it’s fine; I can still move.
(I did it.)
I recall the fight against Yurizia, who had turned into a monster, and Marizia who controlled her.
I used to believe that my special abilities were two separate ones: telekinesis and summary information reading.
However, that’s not the case. It was only my lack of skill that made them incomplete; they are actually a single ability.
When I shut my eyes, I can capture time more vividly than before leaping.
A spiraling staircase, leading to an hazy future.
When I look down, I can see the time I have traversed, and I can capture those scenes.
Time leap.
A special ability that allows me to 'leap' to any time in the past that I have experienced.
The ability that Geivos Haruna Scavaria, the manifestation of the Demonic Statue, probably feared.
"Just wait."
I jog down the corridor and run up the school stairs.
May 13th. On this night, I will meet Aira and be dragged into the Battle of the Defiled Land.
I remember that during this day’s afternoon, I had lunch with Haruna on the rooftop as usual.
My heart beats fiercely, pounding rapidly.
My mouth is dry.
'...Get ahold of yourself,' I said to myself sternly.
Aira and Rain have experienced suffering and pain beyond what I’ve endured in the failed future.
A future like that, one that no one wishes for, must never be allowed to happen again.
What should I do to achieve that?
I know what to do. The means have also been given to me by the two of them.
When I opened the thin iron door leading to the rooftop, the sunlight blazed against my body. My chest wound throbbed sharply, but it felt almost good.
There is no mistake, they are here.
My eyes adjusted to the bright world. In the usual place, the familiar shadow was present.
"Oh, Harima-senpai~! You’re already late, you know."
Knowing the truth, she seems like such a shady and scheming woman to me.
The top beauty of the academy, adjusting her pink-colored bangs and making her large breasts jiggle.
Even that is just a fake appearance to keep my attention.
Without even carrying a lunchbox, I silently approached Haruna.
With her usual cheerful smile, she patted the bench next to her with one hand.
As I glared at that――Geivos Haruna Scavaria, I silently extended my right hand and grabbed her soft breasts.
Squeezing so hard that it felt like her breasts might tear.
Infused with hatred and the suffering of Aira and Rain.
"Ugh... gg, gi...!? Why, what’s going on...!?"
"It’s over now."
"Agh, oh, oh, oh...!?!"
Heat surged from the wound, flowing instantly into my right hand, activating the magic bestowed upon me by Rain.
Dimensional Piercing Magic Circle.
I aimed the magic, created with all of Rain’s life force, at the enemy that must be defeated through my right hand.
Then, using the energy and power received from Aira, I activated my telekinesis and snapped Haruna's neck with a crunch.
"—Guh!? O-oh... you...! Could it be...!?"
The power of the Dimensional Penetration Magic Circle is eroding the body of Geivos Haruna Scavaria, who is both the avatar and the main body. The intent of "absolute destruction" by me, Aira, and Rain pierces through the avatar of the Defiled Land and swiftly reaches the main body of the Demonic Statue in the alternate world of Ivral.
"G-g-g!? Do you understand...!? The consequences of destroying me...! People are steeped in desire... conflict never ceases across the lands... guh...! You humans...!!"
"It’s irrelevant to me—. It doesn’t matter to Aira, Rain, or anyone else either."
According to Rain, even if I leap to May 13th, the exile ritual had already been completed by the morning, and no matter what each participant are scheduled to arrive at the defiled land at different times.
In other words, even if I kill this person now, the world government won’t be able to do anything about it.
With the Demonic Statue destroyed, the powerful wielders of divine artifacts will be cast into the defiled land, with the world government losing everything.
"Hah—haaah, ahhhh! Damn it... damn it! It’s so hot... it’s burning!!!"
Geivos Haruna Scavaria clawed at her head and throat, her body convulsing as she gradually stopped breathing.
"H-hahaha!? My body is! To the people of this world! The genuine Hinoshita Haruka! Do you understand!? You’re becoming a murderer!! Kihi?! Hahaha!!!"
"…Shut up already—its over, just die."
"—Gah, gah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!?!"
In the end, Haruna’s final attempt with insignificant words was futile, and she soon died.
Her pink hair withered, turning white, and rotted away.
Her voluptuous body, which drew men’s attention, dissolved into a slimy puddle.
The will of the Demonic Statue was caught and compressed by Rain’s magic, emerging from the wound on my chest, and then erased.
All traces disappeared from my sight.
Hahaha—, for her to think I’d be branded a murderer just like this is laughable.
There isn’t even a single piece of evidence left.
"…Ah."
Yes, even so, even if it was a lie, I can’t believe the time I spent with 'Hinoshita Haruka' was false—.
What disappeared in front of me was the Demonic Statue, yet unmistakably it was also a girl with the appearance of Hinoshita Haruka—.
Carrying the achievement of destroying the magic statue and the odd sense of loss in my chest.
I chose to live through May 13th, recreating that day to the best of my ability and striving to prevent any additional deviations.
※ ※ ※
I truly have nothing.
A person with nothing desperately seeks something to be proud of from their past, and lives their life with that as their reason for existence.
――For me, it was the days spent after meeting Ayla and Rain.
That’s why I felt a great anxiety before leaping and, even if only for a moment, I experienced hesitation.
Because I had to let go of the treasure of my life, which until then had been worthless as a human.
However, it’s not simply about letting go.
There’s hope that I might be able to grasp a greater treasure than the one I had.
Yes, I believe it.
It’s oddly amusing. Despite going through something a manga-like experience, I remain myself.
The weight of time. The bonds between people, the importance of trust.
Recalling the two weeks of the Battle of the Defiled Land—I emerge from the deep darkness.
I didn’t dream of that.
The dream where the dark figures incessantly declared Harima Yuki is the referee must have also been broken.
Strangely, I felt calm.
Almost there.
A little bit more.
――When I get up, it will be there.
"Ugh—?"
I wake up.
Having been fast asleep in the park after cram school, I checked the time. It was exactly 9 PM.
Then, recalling my memory, I looked towards the corner of the park.
――Ah.
There, a little distance away, was a deeply moving crimson glow that brought tears to my eyes.
With a crimson ponytail and a deep red military uniform.
Her expression, which gave a cool and sharp impression, tightened even further the moment she spotted me.
The crimson-haired beauty walked towards me calmly.
During that time, she touched the pendant around her neck with her fingertips—summoned a crimson sword, and grasped it with her right hand.
Eventually, stopping right in front of me…
"—Who are you…?"
Muttering quietly, she knitted her brows and positioned the sword with both hands.
Without a doubt, unmistakably, undeniably, this beautiful girl is Aira Verfane Quatronix.
Nothing has changed.
…… Well, of course, it's only been two weeks..
Transparent tears start to fall.
I did it.
This is something I didn't want to do in front of Aira.
"Thank goodness…"
"W-What—?"
In response to my relief, Aira, unable to let go of her wariness, instinctively raised her sword.
If she swings it down vertically like this, my body will be split in two.
The Aira Verfane Quatronix in front of me now knows nothing of Harima Yuki's existence.
The Aira from this time, who was forced to massacre countless civilians, imprisoned, and exiled to the Defiled Land.
Even though I knew, I, in my foolishness, couldn't resist and hugged Aira's open torso.
"――Ah…?"
It wouldn't be surprising if I got slashed.
A careless action that would trample on the feelings of Aira and Rain from that future.
Yet, I could still feel Aira's warmth.
The softness of her chest, the warmth, the scent—it's definitely Aira's.
Clatter.
The Dragon Slayer sword, Ashkelon, falls to the ground.
Then, Aira's white hand wrapped around my back, hugging me.
Her other hand gently caressed the wound on my chest.
There's no way such a miracle could exist.
It's too perfect, no matter how you look at it.
Suspecting it might be a delusion, I hug the crimson body even more tightly.
"Yuki... you are my――"
Before Aira had a chance to say anything more.
While burying my tearful face in her ample chest, I said.
"Aira... from now on, once more... save the world and everyone with me."
That's right. This is not the end but just a new beginning.
The beginning of creating a new future that the three of us have grasped.
Aira's hand kept stroking my chest over and over, even though the wound no longer hurt.
It was a little while later that the crimson-haired beauty responded with a tearful voice, 'Yes'.
Our true battle begins from here on out.
Author's Note:
If there is anyone who has read this rare and peculiar novel (I tried my best), I want to express my heartfelt gratitude. Thank you very much.
Chapter length 5865 characters.
This marks the completion of the series, right on Christmas as well, I hope everyone enjoyed the ride and has a wonderful Christmas.
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