12

The body began to slide back.

And the flames flying towards Sinel.

The gaze that began to tilt showed the colleague in crisis.

Soon after, the flame that flew through the atmosphere collided with Sinel.

Kwagwagwang-!

bursting noise. And fragments scattered in all directions.

In it, Sinel flew towards the wall.

"Sinel… … !"

thud. Sinel hit the wall and fell to the floor.

A dagger that was collapsing on the floor along with Sinel caught my eye.

I leaned my leaning body against the wall to stop, then went straight to Sinell.

the wound is big Sinel's burnt skin was showing a horrendous look.

Fortunately, she was still alive.

To see her condition is only here for now.

Now, there was something I had to do before I looked into Sinel's body.

"all… All because of you!"

"you… … ."

He raised his head and looked at the commander in front of him.

He still vomited his resentment towards me and was looking at me this way.

close.

Just looking at the commander broke his teeth.

I have to kill that guy.

Herio is dead. And Sinel was hurt.

It all happened because of him and the ghost army.

The commander, who was looking at this side, raised his palm once again.

"[Inferno]!"

profit-.

The flame from the guy's hand completely extinguished.

The magic hour is completely over.

The commander is not a wizard.

He was just an ordinary human who was not chosen by any magic.

There was always a limit to the magic that could be created with drugs.

I looked at the fallen Sinel and the commander alternately, and picked up Sinel's dagger that had fallen to the floor.

"...."

It was something Sinel was proud of to me that he had bought it.

If you have this dagger, you will be able to kill him without any problems.

With this, the time has come to completely end the affair between me and the ghost army.

I grabbed Sinel's dagger and ran towards him.

"[Inferno]! [Inferno]! Why, why aren't you coming!"

"… … die."

Strength enters the hand holding the dagger.

His body, full of anger, voluntarily ran towards him.

A heavy breath escapes from his mouth.

Blood rushed through the whole body at the beating that began to run wildly.

one short step. And one more step.

The distance between the two quickly grew closer.

"Hey, Inferno… … !"

"Shut up!"

wow! The sharpened dagger slid into the boy's shoulder.

The resistance of the muscles is transmitted through the hands.

But now, drenched in anger, he was as fragile as a piece of paper.

I twisted the dagger that was lodged deep in his body.

Aww-! Quad-!

The sound of bones and muscles collapsing resounded.

"Ahhhhhhhhh… … !"

"It would have been nice while using magic!"

"Ouch… That, not... … !"

"It must have been great because there were loads of people! Did you feel like a king?"

He pulled the dagger from his shoulder and lowered it to his stomach again.

pooh. The commander screamed at the dagger he dug again.

The boy's eyes that had been pierced through his stomach were red and bloodshot.

The blood vessels on the screaming face also stood out.

"Aaaaah! buy… live... … ."

"I have no reason to save you!"

He pulled out the dagger again, and this time inserted it into the guy's chest.

A deafening sound escaped the commander's mouth.

Cool-.

Blood drips from his mouth with a cough.

The strength slowly drained from the body that was struggling.

As if it were the last death sentence left in my life, the commander looked at me and said.

"I, I… can still die... … ."

"no. Now is the time for you to die."

"...."

"Your grave is here now."

As if to finish, the dagger in his hand was strongly thrust down.

A sharp dagger pierced the commander, and soon the commander died completely.

When he died, he didn't move.

With this, Herio's revenge was avenged.

after. He let out a short sigh and drew his dagger.

Shaking off the blood on the dagger, he turned to Sinel.

"Sinel."

The wounded Sinel was groaning in pain.

I had to examine Sinel's wounds as soon as possible.

I quickly ran towards Sinel.

You can't lose even Sinel here.

If necessary, they had to take it and bring Sinel to the hospital as quickly as possible.

"eww… … ."

"Sinel, calm down."

I laid Sinel upright and looked at her condition.

Sinel, who was in a mess, looked up.

Her unfocused gaze hovered in the air.

The front doesn't look right.

The wound is too large.

Can the healing system be saved by receiving magic?

Just as I was thinking about it, Sinel opened her mouth with a light smile.

"sick."

"Wait a minute. I'll take you to the hospital right away."

"hospital… … ."

Blood was oozing from the punctured wound.

If the bleeding continues, you will surely die.

As I was looking for a way to stop the bleeding, my eyes caught on to the coat I was wearing now.

At that moment, he had a dagger in his hand.

"First of all, first aid… … ."

"I think I will die soon."

Just as he was about to cut his coat with the dagger he was holding, Sinel said in a calm voice.

Even though he was seriously injured, he still looked the same.

Sinel is still alive.

Until I die, I have no intention of making her die.

I struggled to deny her story.

"Nothing to die. Don't worry."

"is that so? I can't see ahead."

"It's only been a little hard on my body."

Jiik-.

He moved the dagger and cut the thick coat.

When cut lengthwise, it was long enough to compress the wound.

Because the size of the wound was large, it seemed necessary to cut a few more.

While I cut my coat, Sinell continued his story.

"It's a lie."

It didn't take long to cut the coat.

After squeezing hard on the bleeding part, I tied Sinel to my back.

I tied her and me tightly so that I wouldn't drop it.

If there is even a slight possibility, I have no intention of giving up.

No matter what she tells me.

"Don't even think about dying. I---."

"I like."

"...."

Sinel leaned on his back and whispered in my ear.

I paused for a moment at the sudden confession.

Even if he is seriously injured, does his personality not change?

Sinel didn't care what I said, and he steadfastly told his story.

"It was fun being together."

"Speak up later. Now is the time to save stamina."

"If it's not now, I don't think it will last forever."

"There are plenty of opportunities, so stop giving up."

I hurried my steps again.

There was not much time given to Sinel.

It was an urgent situation.

"It's the first time I've seen the boss panic."

"There was only one bullet left. It must hurt a little, but it can be fixed when you go back."

"It looks very serious. So let's do it now."

After all, Shinel himself is probably the best aware of his physical condition.

Still, there are times when you don't want to give up.

don't give up hope

With that single thought, I kept moving my feet.

However, he couldn't stop the words coming out of Sinel's mouth.

"...."

"It was fun being together."

"… … Sinel."

"We eat together, we walk outside together."

"...."

"We watch TV together, we go shopping together."

"...."

"Using the same shampoo, waking up in the same bed."

"...."

"If you think about it, every day was a date."

Most of them were trivial.

These are often referred to as daily routines.

It is a story about things that are repeated too monotonously, but that is why they have forgotten their preciousness.

All of these things would not have been possible without Sinel remaining.

She was already driving a wedge deep into her life.

"It makes my heart pound when I see a smiling face, and the time we spend together becomes more and more precious."

"...."

"I feel sad every time I leave it alone and move."

"...."

"Obviously, this feeling is called love."

"… … is it."

Go back the way you came

Crossing the corner of the messy road, I walk avoiding the corpse of the remnant that fell on the floor.

If you cross the road, another road comes up, and after passing it, another fallen remnant comes out.

The traces of the battle were leading me like a milestone towards the lost path.

"So I like it."

"Save your words. Confessions, dates, if you go back, you can do whatever you want."

"I do not like it. I can't do it now."

Sinel's voice began to grow weaker.

As if the flames that had been burning fiercely were extinguished, her voice was getting smaller and smaller.

My heart slowly tightened at the dwindling voice.

Anxiety was spreading in my heart, as if I was going to lose the happiness I was holding in my hand forever.

"I am getting sleepy. I think I will sleep."

"Calm down. Just hold on a little longer."

"If you answer me, I will try."

"...."

Seeing Sinel's stubborn attitude, I had no choice but to make a decision in my heart.

It is not possible to delay an answer indefinitely.

If she wants to hear it now.

And if that could be a strength to her.

I was able to give you that answer.

"So, I won't tell you. Last answer."

"This is not the last time."

"It's good though. So please listen."

Swallowing a short breath, he recalled the story he had in his heart.

What do I think of Sinel?

The answer to that has already been decided a long time ago.

A word that I, who had become accustomed to living here, put on hold for fear of giving up on returning.

I let go of my suppressed heart.

"I… … ."

pure as snow,

It blooms brightly like petals.

Sometimes it twinkles like the stars in the sky,

Sometimes it is as quiet as a lake holding the moon.

The story gave such a wizard a name.

"I, you… … ."

Cinell Clover Bloom.

My one and only four-leaf clover I found in the darkened city.

So, I want you---

"I love you."

A confession to her that he spit out hard.

Still, there was no reply from me.

I couldn't even hear the sound of breathing in my ears.

heavy and tedious

In the strangely changed atmosphere, I eagerly opened my mouth and waited for her reaction.

"Sinel… … ?"

I stopped moving forward.

I felt uneasy.

If I didn't address the cause of this anxiety, I felt like I couldn't go any further.

So I stopped and called her name.

"Sinel. Answer me."

"...."

"Sinel! Cinell Clover Bloom!"

No matter how much I call, Sinel does not respond.

Only the head that had lost strength was leaning on me.

It is yet. You wouldn't know unless you looked closely.

I untied the ropes that bound each other.

Then, he took Sinel, who was tied behind him, in his arms, and saw it with his own eyes.

"Sinel… … ."

do not breathe And don't open your eyes

Even if he looked at his pulse, he couldn't even feel the slight pulsation.

Sinel is dead. The Sinel, who had always followed me, was now silent and closed its eyes.

Unbelievable, I kept my mouth shut.

My chest was clogged.

I can't breathe properly.

Sinel, who had only felt close, began to look far away for the first time.

no tears shed

However, there was a core that could not be released, and it seemed that he would not be able to survive unless he bursted it.

"under… … ."

Is there any way to bring the dead back to life?

Going to the heir and turning him into an undead?

If you go to him and bow down to accept him as a subordinate, it may be possible to turn a person into an undead.

But can it be said that the revived Sinel is the same person as before?

I do not know. It is a story that cannot be easily concluded.

It was the moment when I blankly stared at Sinel, then opened the empty magazine and put the executioner in.

"What are you so worried about? If it was dead, I would have just brought him back to life."

"...."

shudder.

The reflexively protruding muzzle was aimed at the opponent.

There was a man in a coat with his collar upright.

As the gun was pointed, the man raised his hands.

The man's face had a friendly smile on his face.

"Oh, please take that gun away. No matter how much I get hit by an executioner, it's hard for me to be okay... … ."

He seemed to know the executioner in the gun.

He doesn't seem like an ordinary person.

It is most likely that he is a character on the side of the gang.

I kept the gun pointed at the man and tried to figure out his identity.

"Reveal your identity. Who are you?"

"My name is Oswald. Sometimes they are called by the name of newcomers."

"Oswald… … ."

Newcomer Oswald.

As soon as I heard the name, I thought about it.

Would it be right to shoot him and kill him right now?

I only have one bullet left.

Only the Executioner received from the successor.

If you use this, you can definitely kill him, but you have to think about what happens after that.

"Oh, are you really going to kill me? If you shoot it, your successor will recognize it, right?"

"It's cheap for a single member of the association."

"Don't do that, just take a look. No, I didn't come here to do anything suspicious, did I?"

Oswald has vehemently denied his dangers with both hands raised.

His thoughts and feelings were transmitted through telepathy.

At least, what I've said so far hasn't been a lie.

I looked at Oswald and pondered for a moment, then returned the pistol back into my arms.

Whoa. Oswald sighed and looked at me.

As far as Oswald's words were concerned, I thought it would be good to listen a little bit.

Because now I feel like I want to hold on to even a straw.

"Let's hear the story."

"You know my truth! I am very happy."

"Stop talking like that and just tell the gist. So, what does it mean to bring them back to life?"

"You have one more magic left, don't you? You can use it!"

It was Oswald who only drew conclusions when he told me to just tell the gist.

I told him to tell me, but it was just too essential.

It was difficult to understand what the story was all about without a middle ground until now.

"… … The story is too rushed. Please tell me a little bit more."

I was forced to ask Oswald for a detailed explanation.

No matter how much the country was, it was impossible to understand what they did not know.

And Oswald lived up to my expectations.

The words that came out of Oswald's mouth were completely unexpected.

"—The ruler of death will withdraw. And the ruler of life will take his place."

It was a prophecy that came from the mouth of a great intellect.

This prophecy came out on the day the group attacked the tower.

Only him and Spinel heard the prophecy of the great intelligence.

I thought that I had no memory of meeting him, but apparently he was hiding at the scene.

The ghost corps was mobilized together, so if you hide, there is a high possibility that you have been hiding on the side of the ghost corps.

"Were you there? It must have been hiding in the ghost corps."

"You've been caught. After all, the old man is a man who can prophesy. Not everything that comes out of your mouth is something you can easily pass up."

A great intellect is the only person in the city who can prophesy.

So, she too was overconfident in her prophecies, so she didn't go crazy.

However, prophecy is prophecy, and I was just a magician of the 5th circle.

Hearing the prophecy did not mean that I could do anything right now.

"So what do you mean?"

"You are the ruler of life in the prophecy, aren't you?"

"I… A person of prophecy?"

"That's it, huh? You thought it was someone else?"

"...."

double circuit.

The great intellect told me that I had the potential to use two magics.

But a possibility is just a possibility.

If you can't actually do it, it's meaningless.

I'm sure you'll hear the latter part of the story you heard a long time ago from the officers of the organization.

If such a fate remained for me, it could be said that it was not so bad.

Seeing my reaction, Oswald didn't forget to add a word with a mean expression on his face.

"I thought so. Well, it could be."

"That's right, why are you trying to help me?"

"People have to stand in line. I say it with my own mouth, but I am a person who can see that I am rotten."

In conclusion, it meant that Oswald decided that I was better than his heir.

If you want to bet, wouldn't it be better to do it when the dividend is high?

As he said, if I was the protagonist of a grand prophecy, the choice itself was not so strange.

What was important was the authenticity of his words.

"Are you going to line up for the ruler of life?"

"That's it. And if I help you, maybe I can get a few scrolls?"

This, too, was not false.

Even Oswald's personality was like that.

Like most members of the Society, Oswald was a person who joined the Society for his own pleasure and interest.

Be the ruler of life. There aren't that many levels of magic that deserve such a name.

And if the magic I thought was correct, it was only natural for Oswald to covet the scroll.

"It seems that there is some basis for certainty."

"Because there are those kinds of scrolls."

"Is it something that can confirm the opponent's magic?"

"Is that so? So, is it helpful now?"

"okay. It was very helpful."

A conversation with Oswald provided enough clues.

The answer was within him from the beginning.

Be the ruler of life. It must have been called by such a grand name in the prophecy.

To be honest, I don't think of myself as such a great person.

Even so, it was a moment when that great self was needed right now.

"Then let him come back to life now!"

"Even if you don't say it, I will."

With a lighter heart, he reached out to Shinel.

Sinel, who was in my arms, closed her eyes as if sleeping.

The short farewell time is over.

Now it was time to return to this place.

He cleared his rough breathing and quietly raised his magic power.

I wish for only one thing.

It is to connect the already broken strands of life with one's own hands.

"―――."

I don't think of myself as a great figure as the successor.

He was just a weak person who came here relying on only one telepathy.

As evidence of that, it has always been protected by someone close to him.

Even in such a country, a great fate awaits here.

And if you need magic worthy of that fate to revive the Sinel in front of you.

I will be the ruler of life as much as I want.

"[Resurrection]."

The great resurrection magic stretched out of his hand.

A magical light flashed, and a magical storm raged around it.

Most of the magical power that had been in his body was drained out in an instant.

The magic energy that escaped formed a small halo, and soon completely covered Sinel's body.

The halo around Sinel slowly began to heal her.

Vitality returns to the face that has drained of blood.

A thin breath revives at the corner of the mouth where breathing had stopped.

"Come back, Sinel."

A wizard's mission is like a milestone that guides his life.

What was the mission given to you?

- Shake the world

It begins with the greatest achievement.

The complete resurrection of the dead.

It was something neither a great intellect nor a successor could do at will.

What no one else in this city can do, he starts with his own hands.

That was my destiny.

And, this was my mission.

The greatest magic was hidden within him from the beginning.

From the moment I first set foot in this city.

This magic continued to follow him.

Even if he lamented and regretted his weak magic, it was himself who was truly foolish.

Because he didn't even notice the huge miracle hidden inside him.

"...."

why didn't you notice it

It was only natural that he was unaware of its existence.

Because he didn't show the moment of awakening to himself.

Originally, he was just an ordinary person living in a world without magic.

He hadn't even thought that he had another magic from the beginning.

Still, there was magic hidden within him.

It was ridiculous in many ways to know that it was only after being confirmed by someone else.

"… … So is it magic?"

I don't know why. I don't even understand the principle.

But it exists alone in front of him.

No one understands but it becomes reality, and no one understands but it becomes a law.

That's why it's a miracle, and that's why it's magical.

I had no intention of letting go of the miracle I had managed to catch in my own hands.

That small miracle turned into a big reality, eventually bringing the girl in front of her back to life.

"Yes… … ."

Flash. Sinel's eyes opened and looked around.

Revived by the effect of 'Resurrection', she finally came to her senses.

The gray eyes that lost focus moved as if searching for something.

And then he stopped moving, illuminating me.

Shinel, with a slightly blank face, looked at me and said.

"It's alive."

Those were the first words of Sinel, who came out of the threshold of death.

live.

Sinel, who was cold and cold with wounds, was talking right in front of her eyes.

He resurrected Sinel with his own hands.

I returned the answer while holding her hand.

"okay. survived."

"I don't feel sick anymore."

"I will."

"Now I can see well."

"That's good."

A simple yet one-sided conversation.

The usual Sinel was facing me.

If I had visited the successor, would I have been able to face this kind of scenery again?

I think it's definitely not.

The successor's magic is something that is missing one screw.

"That magic! Can you still use magic?"

Unfortunately, these touching moments of reunion did not last long.

Because there was one guest watching us.

When he turned his gaze to the main character of the voice, there was Oswald in the form of a puppy waiting for a gift.

"Who are you?"

"It's someone you don't know."

"No, I'm sorry if you suddenly pretend not to know!"

I was worried as I looked at Oswald looking at me.

The guy said that 'magic to detect magic' exists.

I don't know who possessed the magic, but at least it was certain that Oswald had the scroll.

If it was used against me, it was safe to say that the existence of telepathy was also discovered.

Telepathy and Resurrection.

Either type of magic is dangerous if its identity is discovered.

For now, it was definitely necessary to keep the guy's mouth shut.

"Before that, let me ask you one thing."

"Of course, feel free to ask!"

"Are your clothes a little heavy?"

"It's okay! This rookie rookie Oswald is not the one who speaks everywhere!"

It is so light that you can spit out anything just by looking at the way you speak.

Although I think it is far from heavy at the point of asking as many questions as you want in the first place.

Still, the heart of the guy who had read it telepathically, at least didn't show any signs of lying.

Oswald is sincerely trying to betray his heir.

It also believed in only one Resurrection Magic.

"I'll make you one."

"Is that true!"

"okay. Instead, there are conditions."

From the experience of using it once, the magic consumption of the Resurrection Magic was very large.

If it were a day when telepathy was less used, it would be possible up to three times, but on a day like today, two times was the limit.

If you make a scroll for the ghost army, you will no longer be able to use magic today.

The time to resurrect is within 5 days from the date of death.

It's great magic, but it's not perfect.

Still, having one extra life was a huge advantage.

"What conditions?"

"Today's work, and about me. Neither of them divulge anywhere."

"I do that."

"one more. Where does the guy with the detection magic you just used live?"

"Oh, you don't have to worry about that. It's a guy named Alex from District 8, and he's already dead."

It was true.

It was a problem I was worried about, but I was happy.

There doesn't seem to be any need for a separate silence if there's no chance of my magic being detected any more.

If the information problem had been resolved, it was now my turn to make a claim.

"And maybe someone else can use that scroll?"

The effect of Oswald's magic is simple.

Saving the magic used by others and making it into Oswald's scroll.

The scroll created in this way becomes a magic of 1 circle, and can be activated the moment the scroll is torn.

You can only use any magic on 1 circle.

However, a variety of magic can be used by one person.

So, it was calculated that it would be helpful someday to get a few scrolls from Oswald.

"Oh, that's hard."

Does it mean that the world doesn't flow so conveniently?

Oswald shook his head in denial.

This meant that the scroll could not be used by anyone.

I looked at Oswald like that and said jokingly.

"I'm sorry. I have to kill you here."

"But there are substitutes."

Oswald took an ampoule from his pocket and shook it.

The identity of the ampoule in his hand could not be easily guessed.

It is a drug used by the ghost army.

He threw it at me without hesitation.

It was an unexpected income.

I snatched Oswald's ampoule and stopped trying to put it inside the coat.

The coat he was wearing had long since been torn.

I couldn't help but put it in my pants pocket.

"You were a better friend than I thought."

"Are you satisfied now?"

"okay. I'll do some magic. Come closer."

"Of course I will!"

Oswald with an excited face approached.

To be given an extra life, it was something that anyone would be happy to hear.

This is especially true if you are a type who frequently travels diagonally, like Oswald.

"Who can I use it for?"

"Oh, you use it here. [Scroll Maker]."

A translucent piece of parchment emerged from Oswald's hand.

It was a parchment that looked like magic to anyone.

I reached out for the parchment Oswald had made.

The moment he was about to use magic, Herio came to mind for a moment.

But soon after seeing the helicopter passing by the sky, I stopped.

If the support you had requested was arriving, there was no way Herio could be saved right now.

This magic is not the kind that can be shown in front of everyone.

The moment I discover the true nature of the magic, not only the heir, but the entire city will become my enemies.

So, in order to use it on Herio, it was necessary to go through a reasonable procedure in advance.

To be precise, it was the content that needed to be coordinated with Bell.

'[Resolution].'

The magic he used to silence the sound went out of his hand.

A vivid brilliance lingered on her fingertips, and was immediately sucked into the scroll.

Oswald's scroll gleamed with light.

Before long, the scroll engraved with clear patterns took in the light it had been showing.

It didn't take long for one scroll to be completed.

"This, this is the magic… … !"

Oswald cheered as he looked at the scroll in his hand, and carefully put it into his arms.

It is an object of different value from other magic.

It is understandable to make a fuss like this.

Oswald, who put the scroll in, said to me with a look of regret.

"Can't you make a few more?"

"You have to pay the price to get that kind of reward."

"What is the price? money? Or would you like me to kill those who offend you?"

Oswald is seriously thinking of betrayal.

It was because he did not have any loyalty to the association from the beginning.

It would be difficult to expect such a thing from criminals who live as they please.

It also meant that you could control him, at least as long as there was a reward.

"Do what is worthy of him."

"As long as it's not boring, you can do it! What can I do?"

"Let me do the right thing for you. it suits you Most of it is cleaning up the bodies."

"Cleaning the corpses… Is that so? You are doing a very terrifying job."

Oswald's expression hardened, realizing the weight of the work.

Anyone who is involved in a society would know the weight of what I said.

I took out a notepad and a pen and jotted down the address.

Then he tore it up and handed it to Oswald.

"Take time to come. As promised, I will introduce you to a job."

"All right! Let's look forward to it."

"Are you planning to go now?"

"It must be so. It's like dogs that are slowly unleashing their encirclement."

Oswald took the scroll out of his arms.

It was a scroll with a fog-like pattern.

Oswald, holding the scroll in his hand, looked at me and said his final goodbyes.

"Then let's meet again at a suitable time."

"The next time you come, untie the polymorph."

"That must be difficult!"

sizzle.

Oswald bit the scroll he was holding with his teeth.

The sharply torn scroll emitted a clear light.

Immediately after that, Oswald's appearance disappeared in an instant.

It was a quick exit, just as it appeared when he appeared.

Newcomer Oswald.

It was a passage that could tell why the boy was named.

"He was a very noisy person."

"Let's go back soon."

"Are you going to the hospital?"

"You don't have to go to the hospital. Because everything was fine."

"It is the power of love."

bean. A honey chestnut was placed on Sinel's head, making strange noises.

It's not that bad if you look at it, but hearing such a story makes you feel weird.

When I got up from my seat and started to go back to the place where the party was, Sinel also left and followed me.

The back that had been carrying Sinel before was light.

My heart, which had been weighed down by various emotions, was also light.

It felt like my body was about to fly.

"president."

"okay."

"What did you say to the last question?"

Sinel, who was walking side by side, asked me.

Sinel's last question.

It was something I was asking about my heart.

Apparently, he died without hearing my answer to the end.

As it was the content she was most curious about, it was understandable to search for the answer again.

"I can't seem to remember."

"I didn't get an answer."

"is it."

"So please listen to me again."

It was a question that would have been skipped over saying it was nothing.

But today, I didn't feel like doing that.

Precious things are only valuable when they exist next to you.

No matter how many times you cry out for answers after losing, no one will hear them.

"Likes."

"...."

"Did you not hear me? I should say it louder."

Upon hearing the confession, Sinel's face was still expressionless.

But in contrast to him, Sinel's ears were burning red.

It was the first time I'd seen Sinel look shy.

Indescribable emotions were overflowing inside her.

Some would call it palpitations.

And some will call it love.

"… … It's a little difficult to be popular."

"It's a very happy problem."

For Cinell Cloverbloom, it was the latter.

The case was taken care of by the staff of Lessert Industries, whom Bell called.

The personnel who arrived by mobilizing vehicles and helicopters cleared up the remnants and cleared the scene.

Most of the remnants of the Ghost Corps were scattered everywhere.

Except for the wandering undead, most of them had no connection.

I separately asked Bell to delete the records, and the CCTV records of the scene were also completely destroyed.

It was a minimum measure to keep our identity from being discovered by the successors.

The head of the Knights of Nighttail resigned shortly after hearing Herio's death.

The Viertin family informed him that they would pay for the failure of the guard.

Not surprisingly, the city's newspapers featured the unusual expression of anger by a member of the 12th family.

There was also speculation that Lessert, who was the biggest supporter, would put pressure on Nighttail for reorganization.

Finally, Herio's funeral was held under the auspices of the Knights of Nighttail companions.

The reason was that there was no contact with Herio's family.

"I'm noisy about that girl."

Seeing the news on TV, Sinel opened his mouth.

Bell Byatin. It would not be a very distant person to Sinel now.

It was a problem that might have become more complicated with the events up to now.

I put my head on my lap and stroked Sinell's head, lying on the couch watching TV.

"Because he is such a great person."

"Did you say that you were an imperial nobleman?"

"okay. 12 nobles of the Empire. They are not families that can be looked down on lightly."

Swordsman was trying to open the gift from the other side.

This is a special thank you gift from Lessor Industries to our office.

Even with Herio's sacrifice, it is undeniable that we made a significant contribution to the rescue of Belle Viertin.

However, whether he was conscious of my request to erase the CCTV records, the gift from Resert was delivered secretly.

Most of them were prototypes of equipment being envisioned in Lessert.

"There are goggles in here too."

The equipment of Lesser Industries was a luxury item for mercenaries wandering the battlefield.

The swordsman was examining the things of Lessor with his golden eyes twinkling.

Upon hearing the word goggles, Sinel looked at the object in the sword's hand.

"Can you light it too?"

"Why do goggles have to shine… … ."

"It's a very lacking thing."

Since when did it become a basic skill for mercenaries to dazzle with goggles?

It was a story that would be very embarrassing if Bell heard it.

If he was looking at Shinel for the improvements he couldn't understand, the swordsman came out and countered her words.

"If it's a résert-made device, it's the best thing you can do anywhere you go. They are good things without having to do that."

"is that so."

"It is."

When I saw the reactions of the two clearly different people, I thought that this was the peace I had been longing for.

How many troublesome things have you been through lately?

Betrayed by the gang of death and chased by the sword demon of the secondary beat,

I ran into the victim who stole the money out of nowhere,

It caused unnecessary friction with Ney Terdos,

The crippled Bruno comes and blows the whole office away.

In addition, recently, while going out to subdue the ghost corps, he even lost Sinel.

Looking back, I thought that no one would have lived a life as chaotic as this.

Leaving Usher Hayes out of the discussion.

"There is a message."

Watching the scenery of the office, enjoying the serenity, said Sinell, looking at my phone.

Jiying.

The cell phone placed on the desk vibrated briefly.

It seemed that the message had arrived as Sinel had said.

"Sinel. Stand up."

To check my phone, I had to first remove the shinel from my lap.

As I looked at Sinel, who was lying face down, Sinel's gaze came out and I looked at the phone alternately.

hmmm. A brief look of concern came from Sinel.

After thinking about it for a while, Sinel looked at me and made a suggestion.

"I'll bring it."

"Then please."

"[Haste]."

Haste magic unfolded in an instant.

bump

Sinel, who had quickly disappeared, returned.

In her hand, she had a cell phone from the desk.

"Here you are."

"...."

Sinel jumped back onto my lap and held out his phone.

The appearance of Sinel, who used magic even in such a place, was truly remarkable.

Haha, didn't the swordsman replace the fan with his magic?

I picked up the cell phone that Sinel gave me and checked the message.

"Good work."

"yes."

The message was sent from an unknown number.

However, only the content of the message was quite familiar.

Herio Nightline.

Details of his funeral were written in the message.

"… … There is no rest at all."

I felt frustrated and put my phone down.

It was time to move slowly.

Can't we just leave the hero alone forever?

Someone had to go to meet him.

In addition, negotiations with Bell Viertin were still pending.

Now it was time to go to work.

* * * * * *

The church is located in District 3.

Herio's funeral was being held there.

At the entrance of the cathedral, along with the vehicles of the Knights of Nighttail, the appearance of apprentice knights guarding the entrance was seen.

In addition to that, decorations were installed to commemorate him throughout the church.

It was a scene where you could feel how great the name of the flash knight was.

I came to such a place with Sinel as an escort.

"There are a lot of people."

"There are very few people like this in this city."

I was going to have some formality, so I was wearing the suit I bought in haste.

Sinel also had the most assortment of appearances.

I walked towards the entrance of the church, trying to keep my natural expression.

I thought my lips would be twisted at the thought that I would survive anyway, but I forcibly put up with it.

When Sinel and I reached the entrance to the church, an apprentice knight guarding the entrance stopped us.

"Excuse me, but what is your name?"

The apprentice knight looked at me and Sinel and said,

It is the funeral of that great flash knight.

The number of people who want to participate will never be small.

Besides, wasn't Bell Viatin located in the place where the Mass was held?

As there was a recent unfortunate incident, it seemed clear that the intention was to prevent anyone from entering.

"… … I came here at the invitation of the branch manager."

"Can I check the invitation?"

"okay."

I handed out an invitation from a person in Lessert.

The apprentice knight looked at the invitation for a moment, then moved to another knight and had a short conversation.

He came back to this place after about a minute had passed.

He returned the invitation to me and gave me permission to enter.

"Sorry for taking so long. You are welcome to come in."

"There is nothing wrong with being faithful to your duty."

"Thank you for your understanding."

Unlike other knights, he was a polite person.

Most of the Knights of Nighttail that I met had a sharp reaction.

I nodded and entered the church.

Tub. Tub.

As we entered the cathedral, a crowded hallway greeted us.

There were many people, but there was only one direction they were going.

It wasn't difficult to figure out where the Mass was being held.

"He always helped people in need."

Along with the bride's voice, a heavy atmosphere was transmitted from the surroundings.

Those who were seated were looking at the bride with heavy faces.

Among them, knights were also seen crying.

It seems that Herio's popularity was considerable.

As I felt the atmosphere of the cathedral, I felt like I should cry too.

"He dreamed of becoming a great knight, and he has always worked for him. And he dedicated the rest of his life to his master."

I moved my head to find Bell's figure.

Among the rows of chairs, Bell could be seen seated in a suit.

If I was in the front row, it would have been awkward to have a conversation, so I could say it was an appropriate location.

Bell was staring into the air with wide eyes.

Have you even been able to sleep for a few days?

Either way, it didn't look like he was in good shape.

"If he cannot be called a knight, who has fulfilled his duty to the end, who should we call a knight?"

I silenced my footsteps as much as I could and walked forward.

Then he took a seat next to Belle.

The people sitting around looked at me for a moment, but then they looked forward again.

It's quiet. Sitting next to her were only you and Sinel.

In the brief silence, Bell's dazed eyes lit me up.

"I don't know if you've been well."

"… … Dark Merchant?"

"It doesn't look like it's looking at your face, though."

"What's the matter?"

"I came here to say my last goodbye."

The words were so grandiose, but the content was a much grander negotiation than that.

Bell tilted his head at the words of the last goodbye.

She was stroking Rosario with her trembling hands.

Herio's initials were engraved on the Rosario she was holding.

"Last Farewell?"

"okay. I want you to give me a little time after I'm done."

"okay."

"If possible, a flash knight as well."

After adding the most important information, I turned to the bride.

The bride was still continuing the heartbreaking story.

I have to cry here too.

It was such a worrying moment.

Everyone longs for a miracle, big or small in life.

Sometimes they cling to the little luck in front of them, and sometimes they ask for a big shot that will change their life.

It was the same with Bell Byertin, who grew up with the golden jade leaf of the Viertin family.

There is a miracle in this world called magic.

Magic comes to some people for no reason.

And no one else is given anything.

Still, people are hoping for something beyond that.

to get something.

Or to avoid losing something.

Therefore, Bell had no choice but to ponder the words of the man in front of him.

"Can you save Herio?"

Dark Merchant. He is an unidentified information merchant who has an office in District 3.

Even if I asked the famous 'Claire Lehmann' or 'Drunk Jackson', no one could properly explain what kind of person the man in front of him was.

All they could say was that the things he was involved in were all huge.

And such a dark merchant had made a proposal to Bell.

I will bring back her escort, Herio Knightline, who has already died.

"okay. It is possible."

"… … I can not believe it."

It's like a dream.

So it was an incredible story.

When I thought that I had been called to a quiet place to share these stories at best, Bell felt lost.

He said he had come to say his final goodbyes.

If it was the man in front of him who stood on the battlefield with Herio, he would have had an in-depth conversation with Herio.

It was Bell who took care of that part and created a place where he could face Herio separately.

That such a man is trying to cheat or cheat on him.

It was only natural that Bell's expression gradually darkened.

"Well, of course you can't believe it."

"Are you going to play with me now?"

"I must have come here to play with you. Even so, I am still tired."

"What the hell do you want to talk about?"

I will bring the dead back to life.

No one, Bell thought, would believe such a nonsense.

The nobles of the successive empires searched for ways to live a little longer, regardless of who they were.

Magic was no exception.

Even if it were a magic that brings people back to life, it's just a story that comes out of legend.

Bell's theory was that if it had been possible, the great intellect would not have died so in vain.

However, the dark merchant in front of him shamelessly did not bend his claim at all.

"If you can't believe it, don't believe it."

"okay. I won't believe it."

"Instead, trust the money and power you have."

"What… … ?"

Rather, he had only persuaded Bell by stating more sophistry.

Trust in the money and power you have.

It's the first time she's ever heard of it.

There were many people who approached her, belonging to the 12 families of the Empire.

However, it was the first time I had ever heard a story like this directly.

"It wouldn't hurt to be deceived, so what are you worried about?"

"Yeah, it's not a big deal, but I'm stupid… … ."

"If there is a problem, we can take it by force. Don't you have connections with the security forces?"

"But it is… … ."

"And you must be the one waiting most eagerly for Herio to return."

Bell felt increasingly speechless.

In retrospect, it wasn't that bad.

Except that scammers all say things like that.

And it was also true that Bell himself wanted Herio the most.

He was willing to sacrifice whatever he had if it was necessary to revive Herio.

Still, he didn't like the fact that he was playing with the dead Herio.

"Oh really… … ."

"If it's difficult, just think of it as selling your soul to the devil."

"After that, it's more of a problem."

"Or maybe it's okay to think that an angel has come."

"Where in the world is such an angel!"

None of the stories Bell had ever seen showed an angel with such a strange odour.

And for an angel, there was a side that revealed a lot of money.

Where in the world is an angel soaked in water bathing?

Of course, if you look closely, it might take some place, but at least not as far as Bell knew.

Bell, who slowly began to feel a pain in his head, sighed.

"under. Before proceeding with any more silly stories, let me ask you this first."

"What are you curious about?"

"What the hell do you want?"

Hearing Bell's question, the Dark Merchant was troubled for a moment.

He stroked his chin with his finger in thought, then slipped his hand into his pocket and pulled out a pen.

Then he tapped the table with a pen.

A paper had already been placed on the table facing the two of them.

"All I want is a contract."

"contract?"

"okay. It is a non-binding contract that can only be kept by mutual trust."

"… … What does that have to do with this?"

"Herio Nightline is dead. But today I will be resurrected here. The contract we're going to share is about what we're going to do with each other after that."

Complex. And it's pretty serious.

Bell changed his gaze, thinking that he had gone too far for a prank.

Isn't he feeling like he wants to grab a straw right now?

Even if this is a scam, it wouldn't hurt to be hit once in a while.

This is especially true if the contract we are sharing now is not a preemptive condition.

"okay. What conditions do you want?"

"Herio, I intend to bring him back to life. But he was officially killed in a fight against a ghost army."

"Are you talking about making them dead?"

"Since he's actually dead, there shouldn't be any problem."

"Is there any reason for that?"

"I have no intention of publicizing this magic to the outside world. And it is necessary for Herio to move in secret."

Magic to save people.

If there was such a thing, anyone would turn their eyes and run.

It was only natural for Bell to hide his magic.

But in the latter case, the story is different.

Although it could be said that he miraculously saved Herio, he said he would destroy Herio's identity.

In other words, Herio could no longer be her escort.

"I'm talking about quitting my escort. Additionally, I should quit the Knights of Nighttail."

"Herio has a job to do. However, once this is over, the story behind it will be good."

"What must be done… … ."

"Of course, even if that day comes, I'll have to keep quiet about my magic."

"It doesn't matter. If what you say is true, I will keep you shut."

The story of magic must eventually become a secret.

It is probably the most important condition in the contract between the two.

The second, of course, was about Herio's role.

Even if Herio comes back to life, if she doesn't meet, that would be a sad thing in its own way.

"Finally… I want some support."

"support?"

"I would like to share contact with Herio often. Considering my position, I wouldn't be able to move directly, but if it's a nominal sponsor, contact would be fine."

"What are you sponsoring for?"

"To remove the deepest darkness of the city. As with everything else, this sponsorship will also be anonymous."

The more I listened to it, the more dangerous it felt.

But sometimes it is necessary to take that risk and enter it.

That's what she had learned while reigning as the branch manager of Lesser.

Belle Viertin was not alone.

Behind her was Lesser Industries.

And she had her own knight, Herio Nightline.

"I will accept everything. Your secret and your future story."

"I am not going to leave it as a document. It's a story that both of us have to bury in our hearts until the day we die."

"okay. So— bring Herio back to life."

You never know what the consequences of your choices will be.

But she wanted to see Herio's face alive.

I wanted to touch her rough cheeks. I wanted to feel the warmth.

And to such a Herio, I wanted to say goodbye.

I felt like I wanted to face my own article so that I would no longer feel lonely.

"The contract has been established."

"yes."

"Now, it's time to witness the miracle."

After the conversation, the Dark Merchant stood up.

Then he approached Herio's coffin behind Bell.

Bell also stood up.

I was going to see with her own eyes what was going on.

A luxurious wooden coffin located in the corner of the room.

In it, Herio with a pale face quietly closed his eyes.

"Herio… … ."

"You will see a healthy face soon."

"...."

"Because that's magic."

The dark merchant quietly approached Herio.

His rough palms were placed on Herio's forehead with his eyes closed.

It looks like sleeping.

Still, he was not breathing.

As if breathing breath into Herio's lips, the dark merchant's palms emitted a clear light.

"[Resurrection]."

A dazzling light enveloped Herio's body.

The light that filled the field of vision became breath, and a strong pulsation that made people move again.

heartbeat-. heartbeat-.

In the silence, a clear beating sound could be heard in Bell's ear.

Herio's chest, which had stopped, went up and down, and his arm, which had been completely cut off, returned to its original state.

A miraculous moment of restoring the injured person followed.

And the moment when Herio's eyes, which had been firmly closed, finally opened.

"Herio… … !"

Bell opened his eyes and ran towards Herio.

Herio's blinking eyes captured Bell's figure.

Bell's slender hand caressed Herio's cheek, and the body temperature he felt through his fingers shuddered.

What was in front of her was undoubtedly Herio.

It was a knight who raised a sword for her and fought to the end for her.

"ah… … ."

"You have opened your eyes."

Their eyes met in the air.

short silence. Shortly thereafter, Bell brought his head closer.

Their body temperature was transmitted through their foreheads that touched each other.

There were many things I wanted to say if I met Herio again.

I wanted to say thank you, and I also wanted to say a proper goodbye.

However, the moment they met each other again.

Bell had forgotten all the greetings he had in mind.

"… … miss."

What you need is not a word.

Bell completely covered Herio's mouth with his lips.

There was no need for a long story between the two.

Because there are always stories that can be told without coming out of your mouth.

So Bell gladly swallowed the farewell farewell in his mouth.

"...."

Dear, to my knight――――.

hi.

And again, bye.

The second-class investigator of the National Security Agency, Wilton Reegerberd.

He scratched his head with a puzzled face.

Nei Terdos, his direct subordinate, stood in front of him as he received the report.

Even as a subordinate, Wilton was not a person who could give orders.

Nei was the younger brother of Marshal Abel Terdos.

Already from the time she came to the police force, rumors about parachuting were on the side.

Most of the things that could be punished by other people were handled quietly by the superiors.

It seems she doesn't really think so.

"Are there guys who only burn corpses?"

Of course, what bothered Wilton now was the report in his hand rather than the parachute in front of him.

The report in Wilton's hand described a suspicious person who had recently begun to move.

Area 8 where large and small events occur frequently.

If what happens there is not serious, even the security guards tend to close their eyes.

Still, the police force was in a shortage of manpower, so compared to the previous police force, the number of districts it was in charge of also increased.

The problem was that the opponent was playing in other areas as well as in Area 8.

"These guys have suspicious movements. I don't think they would do something like that for no reason."

"So this… Would you like to be monitored? No one was injured, and the damage to property is minimal."

"We are a police force. If there is a possibility that there is a problem, it is right to keep an eye on it."

"No, what. Are you in charge of manpower? You want to catch the guy playing with fire and get rid of the busy guy?"

Nei, who was listening in front, sighed.

Seeing that, Wilton was also thrilled.

He must have been disappointed by himself in the face of the reality of the police force.

If it wasn't for the girl of the Terdos family, I would have said anything, but even if I scolded him, he was in a position that only bothered me.

If you really wanted to play a hero game, you would do it somewhere other than the police station.

Wilton struggled to contain the thoughts that ran through his mind.

The opponent was not a prestigious nobleman of the Empire.

It was better for himself to keep his words as little as possible.

"It could be that the burnt corpse was murdered. They wouldn't burn a corpse for no reason."

"You killed someone and burned it to cover it up?"

"Isn't it better to ask the superior and try the appraisal first?"

haha. Wilton smirked involuntarily.

It was a request for forensics, and in the end, it was something he had to deal with.

The young lady in front of her is making herself work.

Only then will you never know who is the boss and who is the subordinate.

Terdos. police. security chief.

As he recalled the people involved, Wilton began to get fed up.

Even the recent loss of the case to the superiors was vividly revived in my mind.

A woman who was only talking nonsense was released due to lack of evidence.

Even though he was the most likely murder suspect of the great intellect.

"You do it all. I'd love to draw It's simple."

What were you working in the police force for?

what is justice and what is injustice

Where are the alternative security forces headed?

Wilton, caught in countless thoughts, lay stiffly in his chair.

It started with a lot of enthusiasm when I was young, but now it was an organization that seemed to be disillusioned.

It was Wilton who survived the hellish battle with the lame.

All that was left for him was the age he was getting tired of and the treatment of the noble lady.

"We are a security guard. For the safety of citizens... … ."

"know."

"yes?"

"I know! I'm already annoyed because I can't even catch the fortifications, but I'll listen to all the stories."

"...."

"You two go and investigate or catch them! Miscellaneous criminals are not under our jurisdiction, so if you don't kill them, they'll just come back!"

bang! bang!

Wilton, who slammed the desk hard a couple of times, gave a congratulatory address to Nay.

Nei stared blankly at Wilton, then nodded and went outside.

Only then did Wilton look outside with a more relaxed expression.

It was a situation where he couldn't even get angry at his own will when there was someone who was annoying.

Since when did this security guard feel like a cage?

It was a turning point in Wilton Ligerbird's life.

"I hope it doesn't matter."

Wilton's gaze naturally turned in the direction Nei left.

I'm not going to get hurt or hurt by something like that.

Such an indifferent thought ran through his mind.

* * * * * *

"The ghost corps is dead. From what I heard, it seems that he was attacked by Nighttail's detachment."

The roof of a building in District 4.

There, the transformationalist looked at the girl next to him and said,

The name of the girl with her gray hair is Spinel Clover Bloom.

He was an executive of a group trying to restore the glory of the old empire, and was an archmage called the wizard of the skyscraper.

After hearing the story of the transforming magician, Spinel simply replied back indifferently.

"It's a cowardly ending."

"You don't seem to care much."

"Are you sure you want me to be sad?"

"It would be difficult to ask for something like that from you. Well, to some extent, it was not the expected result."

The story of Nighttail's air raid was information that had flowed from the beginning.

Of course, despite knowing that fact, the association did not show any significant movement.

Even if they were bound by the name of an association, they were in fact no different from each other.

Even more so if there was no order from the successor.

From the heir's point of view, there was no need to move even considering the risk.

"I wanted to eat it from the moment I kidnapped the branch manager of Lessert."

Spinel clicked his tongue and looked into the air.

The ghost corps kidnapped the branch manager of Lesser Industries to stop the subjugation of Nighttail.

However, as a result, it failed to block the Nighttail.

It's a shame because the commander is dead, but it would have been even more troublesome if he was alive.

It was because their owner had no intention of moving yet.

"The commander has always been greedy. His ambition was as great as his ability."

"Isn't it your karma to die like that?"

"I don't think so. Anyway, I think there are a lot of things that are not clear in this case."

Spinel turned and looked at the Transformer.

The shapeshifter took a cigarette in his mouth and took a sip.

Whoa. Thick smoke blew through the wind.

Spinel waved his hand to disperse the smoke that was approaching him.

"What do you mean it's not obvious?"

"I heard the news that Nighttail's Flash Knight was killed in a fight with him."

"Did you see it on TV? I remember seeing you for a while."

"The 'he' who saw it gave the order. Please check the status of the flash knight."

It was possible for the successor to make a corpse in relatively good condition into an undead.

Not to mention, the Flash Knight was one of the most powerful among the Knights of Nighttail.

If such a thing could be acquired, it would have been a significant increase in power for the successor.

So, he wasn't the heir to leave this opportunity alone.

That's why he entrusted the mission to a transformationalist who specializes in camouflage.

"So, how was it?"

"The coffin was empty."

"… … The coffin was empty?"

"okay. When I opened the contents, there was nothing! Not even a single hair remained."

Recalling the absurd memory, the transformationalist smiled bitterly.

There are no corpses left that the heir coveted.

That fact meant one of two things.

Either someone grabbed the flash knight's body and ran away, or the flash knight was actually alive.

Either way, there's a lot of potential.

However, if the reason was the former, it could turn into a big problem.

"Do you think he might be alive?"

"No way. Someone must have intercepted it on purpose."

"Someone deliberately intercepted it. Are you serious?"

"There was a guy I was suspicious of. They seem to appear frequently, especially in Area 8."

"There seems to be some reason."

"They say they carry abandoned corpses. Rumors have already spread under the name of an undertaker."

undertaker. When Spinel heard the name, he was worried.

They are deliberately mutilating the corpses, and there are people who intercept the corpses of high-ranking wizards.

It was unlikely that someone might have noticed the successor's abilities and moved.

From the standpoint of the association, it could be said that it was a huge risk factor.

"It's fun."

"This is not a story that will end in a fun way."

"Isn't it important? I know."

"Are you planning to go out on your own?"

At the transformation wizard's question, Spinel stood up from the railing.

Shining silver blades appeared around her, who was precariously straddling the railing.

Beneath the blades reflecting the moonlight, Spinel looked down leisurely.

Then he said in a confident voice.

"Of course, we should investigate what kind of guys they are."

"So, you're saying you're my junior?"

"That's the story, yes!"

Oswald nodded, looking at the man standing in front of him.

The 'Cradle of Enforcers' located on the outskirts of District 8.

The man was called 'Number Seven' here.

The moment I entered this place, it was Oswald, whom I had high expectations for.

But after facing Number Seven, Oswald's expectations turned to disappointment.

It's because they couldn't find anything unusual in Number Seven.

I looked into the magic that I had, just in case, but it was an achievement at a level I wasn't expecting at all.

"I see. I beg you."

"I wish you well too! Seniors."