chapter 32

Keith had pierced through Fifteen’s body with a huge claw…

I glared angrily at him, who was scoffing at her.

“You bastard… you didn’t think anything of what Sixteen said!”

“Do I have to think anything of it? It’s just as I said. I brought these girls into the world. I can take them out of it.”

It’s true that Keith did create them…

But even then, they had hearts!

“Don’t you think it’s ludicrous? That a heartless puppet would talk about ‘understanding the heart.’”

Saying this, Keith once again burst into laughter.

Clutching the fallen Fifteen in my hands, I saw Sixteen crying in the corner of my eyes.

I don’t think I’ve been this angry, even in my past life!

“Isn’t it strange?”

“Hm?”

I said unwaveringly, “Heartless? No… they have hearts! Even though they were created by you, their existence is perfect, since they have hearts! Someone like you who doesn’t understand the heart… has no right to laugh at those who do!”

Keith snickered.

“As expected, I really can’t understand you. It’s no use to keep talking. You’ll meet your end, right here and now…”

As Keith smirked, his body started to change.

He slowly grew bigger, his clothes ripped apart, and was gradually covered in black fur.

His face also turned bearlike, and his red pupils glared at my figure.

“By my hand!”

A bear-man…

So this was Keith Rifapein’s true form!

So that giant claw I just saw was his true hand.

Keith, who had become a bear-man, threatened me with both claws.

“Too bad, but I won’t die that easily!”

With Enzetta in hand, I slashed at Keith, and met with his right claw…

As I fought Keith, Sixteen called out for the fallen Fifteen, over and over…

“Onee-chan… Hey, wake up, Onee-chan!”

Sixteen cried as Fifteen remained unresponsive.

Both of them had come to terms with the word “heart”…

And yet, Fifteen was taken from her right in front of her eyes…

She almost felt crushed by her own powerlessness and frustration.

But someone slowly placed a hand on her cheek as tears streamed down her face.

It was Fifteen.

“Tears are a sign of a heart, but I don’t think we should cry that easily…”

Hearing Fifteen’s voice, she turned to look at her.

“Onee-chan!”

Sixteen hurriedly started to help Fifteen, who was thought to have completely ceased functioning.

“W-wait! I’ll fix you right away!”

Sixteen laid her hand on Fifteen’s softly, as she tried to begin curing her.

“Listen, Sixteen… You are… you. Us dolls can be destroyed and made anew. But your existence is unique.”

“My existence…”

Then, Fifteen clutched her hand.

Fifteen’s moist eyes were filled with kindness.

“Live… for yourself… you are not just a doll…”

“Onee-chan?!”

Fifteen strengthened her grip.

Feeling bad, Sixteen raised her voice.

“I’m asking you… to live for the people you believe in…”

“No… No, Onee-chan!”

“Your happiness… is… my wish…”

With that said, she closed her eyes, and Fifteen finally stopped moving.

“Onee-chan… Onee-chan!”

Sixteen hugged Fifteen, who had completely stopped moving.

She continued to cry, and grit her teeth to stop the tears…

Her eyes, covered by a thin film of tears, were filled with determination.

She knew what to do…

Her eyes were laser-focused on her promise.

She had completely made up her mind…

I turned to look at Fifteen, who had completely stopped.

“Fifteen!”

I couldn’t hear their conversation, but I could see that Fifteen was looking towards Sixteen like a worried sister.

There was no way that they were heartless…

Being hurt for others, and inspiring them…

Those kinds of people truly had hearts.

Fifteen and Sixteen were like that.

Even artificial beings could show kindness.

I wouldn’t forgive Keith for scoffing at that!

“Don’t look away!”

“Wh…!?”

While I was looking at Fifteen and Sixteen, I was attacked by a claw. I somehow defended, but I was still blown away.

After taking a look at Fifteen, Keith turned his gaze to Rifill and Meryl.

“I really can’t understand you, no matter how I try… Trash doesn’t need hearts! I’ll show you!”

Keith swiped, and a blade of wind headed towards Rifill.

“Crap! Rifill! Meryl!”

I can’t make it from this far!

The blade of wind was headed straight for Rifill…

However, before it could hit her, someone took the attack, causing smoke to billow out.

When the smoke cleared, Sixteen was there, brandishing a shield.

She… protected Rifill?

“Sixteen, you bastard…!”

“Master… thank you for bringing me into existence. Thank you for letting me stay at your side, and for being so… helpful…”

Keith grew more and more irritated at Sixteen, who had lowered her head.

“That’s right! I am your master! And so, you should serve me!”

“That’s right… but I made a promise to Onee-chan. I should live for those I believe in! That means Asou Aruto and the rest!”

“Sixteen, you…”

“I see… Well then, I’ll just wipe the both of you out!”

Taking off from the ground, Keith got closer to Sixteen.

Bracing for impact, Sixteen raised her shield.

But the attack didn’t hit her—rather, Keith got blown back and slammed into his throne.

Before he could attack, I kicked him.

“Asou Aruto…”

“Don’t do that, Sixteen. You’re important to me too.”

Hearing this, her eyes welled up and she grabbed my clothes.

“It’s weird that I, who was once your enemy, would say this, but… please. Help me!”

There’s no way I could say no to that face…

I giggled and pat her head.

“I promised, didn’t I? I would free you from that guy. Wait a moment. This will be over quick.”

She nodded at me, as I said that while smiling.

Afterward, I turned and brandished Enzetta.

“Hm? Ending me… Don’t think too highly of yourself, classless!”

Keith, who had turned over, rushed me with his sharp claws.

I blocked with Enzetta, then hit his claws and landed a kick on him.

Keith, who had been knocked back, shot multiple blades of wind at me.

However, I blocked all of them with Enzetta, and sent out multiple Light Waves, damaging him.

“Ugh… how!? I’m a ruler…! And somehow, some classless upstart is…!?”

Keith, who had been looking down on me, was confused at how he was losing.

No matter how many blades of wind he sent my way, I parried all of them with Enzetta.

“How can you be king if you don’t even know the meaning of the word ‘heart’? You can’t be the head of a state without caring for your country!”

“Aruto…”

Rifill muttered at my words.

Rifill was that kind of person too…

She’d be able to lead a nation.

Around this time, Glenn’s battle with Eleven and the rest was also heating up.

Holding his sword upward, its blade was covered in flame and grew to a gigantic size

“Great Flaming Sword!”

He slashed sideways and cleaved through Eleven and the others.

The girls, being cleaved through, exploded.

Confirming his victory, Glenn extinguished the flames on his body.

“Phew. Alright, time to head to Aruto!”

After catching his breath, Glenn moved deeper into the facility…

Keith’s frustration hit its limit and he started screaming.

“This… classless bastard!!”

Screaming, Keith changed me.

I coolly brandished Enzetta, used Photon Wing, and wings of light sprung out of my back.

Releasing a large amount of light from my wings, I let Enzetta absorb the energy.

“Photon Slash!”

I formed a blade of light and slashed through Keith, who was approaching.

“Guooooooh!?”

I got closer to him and gathered light in my fist.

“Photon Knuckle!”

I hit Keith in the cheek with the fist of light, knocking him away.

Keith crashed into the wall and passed out, returning to his human form….

I turned around and saw Sixteen.

Her master was defeated…

And she finally felt free.

Sixteen felt both happy and sad…

But… when she saw me fighting for her, she mysteriously smiled…