Chapter 50

The area around was also filled with dust, the ground etched with several radiating cracks. The fallen pumice stone had created a massive crater, in the center of which lay a huge magical puppet, a black stake piercing its chest.

Above Miledy Grem, Shia was leaning on Doryuken, panting heavily. Aichi and Tsuki came to her side. Aichi narrowed his eyes in admiration, and Tsuki looked at her with a gentle gaze.

"Good job, Shia. That was quite a powerful finish. Did you see that, Tsuki?"

"…Yeah, she tried hard."

"Hehe, thank you very much. But Mr. Aichi, this is also a chance to [fall in love with me] again, right?"

"Fall in love with you again? You never fell in love with me in the first place."

Shia, hearing Aichi and Tsuki's praise, looked both exhausted and a bit embarrassed. In fact, until recently, she never thought that she, who had no connection to conflict, could be so active. This was because Shia wanted to stand on the same stage as Aichi and Tsuki, to always be with them, and worked hard for that. That deep and intense desire, combined with the direct confrontation with the final trial of the Seven Great Labyrinths, made Shia's latent abilities bloom, culminating in that final strike.

For Aichi, in the final scene, Shia's final strike was absolutely necessary—such a thing was impossible. The power of the Pile Bunker was insufficient, as expected, and there were other methods to press the drill. However, Shia, as a gentle and non-combative rabbit girl, had no combat skills until recently, but she never once said she wanted to go back, overcame fear, unease, and动摇, and finally reached the deepest part of this great labyrinth. Aichi thought it was fine to entrust the final task to her.

The result was excellent. The final strike, accompanied by a remarkable spirit, was something that even Aichi found a bit captivating. The intensity of Shia's infatuation had been transmitted to Aichi through the final shock wave. Although, Aichi did not have the kind of feelings Shia sought. However, he couldn't help but be captivated by her efforts and perseverance, and that was inevitable. Aichi's gaze had become quite gentle as he looked at Shia.

"Huh? For some reason... Mr. Aichi's eyes feel very gentle... Am I dreaming?"

"You... No, well, considering how you're usually treated, it's understandable... I guess..."

Seeing Aichi's gaze, Shia pinched her cheeks, looking incredulous. Aichi wanted to complain about her reaction but, remembering how he had treated her poorly, it was somewhat understandable, so he let it go.

Tsuki also approached Shia, who was still pinching her cheeks. Then, she pulled on Shia's clothes to make her squat down, gently stroked her head, and slowly combed her disheveled long hair.

"Um, Miss Tsuki?"

"...Aichi won't do it, it's a pity, so I'll do it. You've worked hard."

"Miss Tsuki, Miss Tsuki... Ah, what is this? I feel like crying, waaah..."

"...There, there..."

At first, Shia was taken aback by Tsuki's sudden action, but once she understood it was a compliment, the tension in her body seemed to snap. Shia burst into tears, hugging Tsuki tightly. Indeed, this was her first journey to one of the Seven Great Labyrinths, and she had been enduring all along. She had resolved to reach the place Aichi and Tsuki were going to and not fall behind. Being praised and acknowledged, she felt relieved, and her tear ducts seemed to relax as well.

Incidentally, as Tsuki said, Aichi would not have stroked Shia's head. Shia was the type who would get carried away immediately, so if she misunderstood Aichi's touch as a sign of romantic feelings, it would be quite troublesome. After this experience, Shia had become a close person to Aichi, but of course, Aichi could not have the same feelings for multiple people as he did for Tsuki. "Special feelings" were like that. Moreover, Aichi would not do anything to make Tsuki sad.

However, watching Shia, who was crying and clinging to Tsuki, and Tsuki, who was looking at Shia with a gentle gaze while gently stroking her head... somehow, the future seemed predictable.

Shia clung to Tsuki, who looked at Aichi with an indescribable expression. Suddenly, a voice addressed the three of them.

"Sorry to interrupt such a good atmosphere, but things are getting a bit unpleasant. Can I bother you for a moment?"

A very familiar voice. Aichi and the others suddenly looked at Miledy Grem and noticed that the light in her eyes, which had disappeared, had returned. Immediately, Aichi and the others leaped back to keep their distance. Indeed, the core should have been destroyed, but they regained their vigilance and took a stance.

"Wait, wait, it's fine~ You passed the trial! Your victory! The remaining power in the core's fragments is only enough for a few words~ It won't last a few minutes."

As if to prove her words, Miledy Grem remained motionless, the light in her eyes flickering faintly and about to disappear. It seemed there were really only a few minutes left.

Aichi slightly relaxed his vigilance and addressed Miledy Grem.

"Then? What do you want to say? You're still alive. Not noticing the atmosphere... you'll be remembered as a liberator with the most regrettable nature."

"Wait, don't~ That deliberately annoying and outdated behavior is what? I really don't want that kind of thing to be remembered."

"Then? If it's something like 'kill those damn bastards,' I have no intention of listening."

Caught off guard by Aichi's words, Miledy Grem seemed to have a bitter smile.

"I won't say it. There's no need to say it. What I want to say... is more of a warning. Even if the labyrinth you conquered doesn't have the ancient magic you seek, you must obtain the ancient magic of all of us... because it is necessary for your wish..."

Miledy's strength was almost depleted, her voice becoming faint and her words broken. However, Aichi, seemingly unconcerned, asked her.

"All of them... Can you tell me the locations of the other labyrinths? History has been lost, and almost no one knows."

"Ah, is that so... I see, the locations of the labyrinths are unknown... It's been a long time... The locations... the locations are..."

Finally, Miledy Grem's voice began to lose its strength. There was a sense of melancholy in her voice, and both Tsuki and Shia had a profound expression, their eyes filled with respect. It was respect for the living being who, in the long ages, had exchanged their will for a vessel to fulfill their mission or wish.

Miledy spoke in broken words about the locations of the remaining Seven Great Labyrinths. Some of them were quite surprising.

"That's all... Good luck."

"...You're more honest than I expected. What about that annoying tone and those hateful lines?"

As Aichi said, the current Miledy was not the one who prepared the annoying text in the labyrinth or the one who was just now loud and annoying. She seemed honest and serious. Perhaps, when she heard Aichi's purpose before the battle began, that was her true self. Before her demise, there was no need to hide it anymore.

"Ahaha, sorry~ But... that damn bastard... is really a hateful person... always doing hateful things... so, a little... I wanted you to get used to it in advance..."

"Hey, you. I already said I'm not interested in crazy gods. And you're defining the premise of the battle and changing your way of speaking on your own."

Aichi's voice was a bit unhappy, but Miledy answered him with an unexpectedly serious and confident tone.

"...The battle. You, only you... will surely... you are, to kill the god..."

"...I understand the meaning. If he stands in my way, I will kill him..."

Aichi was a bit confused. Miledy looked at him and laughed joyfully.

"Hehe... That's good... Live as you wish... Your choice... will certainly... be the best... for this world..."

Unconsciously, Miledy Grem's body was enveloped in a bluish-white phosphorescence. The light, like fireflies, turned into faint little points and ascended to the sky. It was as if the soul of death was gradually being recalled to heaven. A very, very mysterious scene.

At this moment, Tsuki slowly approached Miledy Grem's side, gazing at her eyes, which were almost devoid of light.

"What's wrong?"

Miledy's voice was like a whisper. In the same way, Tsuki whispered a word, a gift to the great "Liberator" who was about to disappear.

"...Thank you. You've worked hard."

"..."

It was a word of encouragement. A great being who had waited alone in the depths of deep darkness, this was a small gift from those who were still alive. Perhaps it was inappropriate for a junior to say such things to a senior. But, indeed, Tsuki could not think of anything else.

For Miledy, this was also an unexpected word. There were no words, only a sense of shock. Soon, Miledy spoke in a calm voice.

"...Thank you."

"...Yeah."

Incidentally, while Tsuki and Miledy were having their final conversation, behind them, Aichi, who seemed to know everything and was impatient, said, "Well, die quickly," and Shia immediately noticed this, "Who can't read the atmosphere! Please be quiet!" and from behind, she squeezed his arms and covered his mouth. Although Aichi was "Mmm, mmm!" calling, fortunately, Tsuki and Miledy did not notice, and the solemn atmosphere was maintained.

"...So, time... is... up... You will... decide... your future... freely..."

Miledy Grem, one of the "Liberators," bestowed the same words as Oscar and disappeared into the sky as a faint light.

The area was enveloped in silence, and Tsuki and Shia seemed to be immersed in the afterglow, looking up at the sky to follow the trail of light.

"...At first, I thought she was a twisted and the worst person. But she was just trying her best."

"...Yeah."

Tsuki and Shia conversed in the silent atmosphere. However, there was also a man who had no feelings about Miledy, Aichi, who looked at their conversation with disinterest.

"Hah, enough already? Let's go. And, I assert, that person's nature was originally that bad? The level of malice was not something that could be acted out."

"Wait, Mr. Aichi. Saying such things about a dead person is cruel. Mr. Aichi really can't read the atmosphere."

"...Aichi, KY?"

"Tsuki, even you... Hah, well, okay, okay. But, for your information, I can read the atmosphere. I just choose not to."

Chatting like this, Aichi and the others noticed a corner of the wall