THE COST OF PEACE

- I don't understand what you mean. By your words... did we lose, and... no, you yourself said we won.

- It's not that I want to keep you in the dark, but that's how things happened. As for explaining everything exactly, well, I don't want to. It's too much trouble. Instead, let's watch this little recording I made of the battle.

Out of nowhere, a tape appeared. Putting it into the player, it played the image of a group of people battling in a large-scale war. These people were indeed Yukihime and the others in the climactic point of action, but there was something different, something that surprised them and suddenly thrust them into total confusion.

The person at the forefront, the one leading and battling one-on-one with the once strongest mage in the world, the one in whom everyone placed their hopes.

"WHO IS HE?"

This question popped into everyone's heads.

Black hair and eyes, 17 to 18 years old, a serious and reassuring expression. His gaze deeply reflected a burning desire for battle and victory. His movements were swift and powerful, a strength that defied all the abilities of those present. Even Nagi and Negi themselves couldn't help but feel horrified watching this. They knew perfectly well that if it were just them, without the almost infinite energy support from Ialda, it would be impossible to match.

In the video, this boy was seen fighting against Negi-Ialda with minimal disadvantage. But before they could see more, without knowing how it all ended, the video cut off.

"What is this?" Yukihime asked, frightened by not knowing what she had witnessed.

"This is what really happened."

"Who is he?"

"He's called Touta, Konoe Touta."

"Let's leave it at that. Everyone, disperse. Kity, Negi, Asuna, Nagi, and Arika, come with me."

"But wait—" Before Asuna could finish speaking, the five immortals had already been transported to an immense floating castle.

"Now, the first thing you must want to know is who Touta Konoe is and why you have forgotten him."

"Yes..."

"What's wrong, Kity? You look pale."

"I just have a bad feeling."

"Well, it's too late to regret. I asked if you wanted to know the truth, and you gave me your answer. Well, the truth is, you never knew him."

"Be clearer. What do you mean by that?" Negi tried to sound as calm as he could, but the truth was that this simple sentence already left him trembling inside. Whatever this witch says, it won't be anything good.

"Negi, you're the smartest one here, so answer. What is reality?"

"Ah?"

"It's not a philosophical question, it's simple. Reality is what is recorded in the memory of time. I am the witch of time, so I see everything from a spectator's point of view while you see it as participants. It's obvious which one is more specific. For example, let's say there's a blue car, but someone with poor eyesight comes and says it's green."

"!!!!"

"It seems you've understood."

"Are you saying that what really happened is that this boy saved us all, and what we believe is an illusion?"

"Not an illusion. If you take it as truth, that's fine too, because it's literally what everyone in the world believes as truth."

"Why did we forget?"

"You didn't forget; I already told you that you never knew him in the first place."

"Say more, please." At this point, even the most distracted Asuna knew that something was definitely wrong.

"Yukihime created the Erebea magic to use its power and acquire it. Negi took it to the next level, making it possible to steal magic or energy from others. Then I implemented it even further by freely absorbing magic energy scattered in the environment."

"YOU SAY THAT..."

"Our memories were absorbed..."

"No, that's wrong. Raise it a little more, and you'll get the correct answer."

"Are you referring to..."

"I didn't expect any less from the creator of magic. Only you could know the full potential of what you created. It doesn't matter if Negi is more skilled than you in using it; you're still someone to be feared."

"Yukihime..."

"Ah, our memories, not really. I asked if you wanted to know the truth, and you gave me your answer. Well, the truth is, you never knew him."

"Be clearer. What do you mean by that?" Negi tried to sound as calm as he could, but the truth was that this simple sentence already left him trembling inside. Whatever this witch says, it won't be anything good.

"Negi, you're the smartest one here, so answer. What is reality?"

"Ah?"

"It's not a philosophical question, it's simple. Reality is what is recorded in the memory of time. I am the witch of time, so I see everything from a spectator's point of view while you see it as participants. It's obvious which one is more specific. For example, let's say