to push the burden onto them.' And 'Even though God's supposed to exist to oppose Diablo, it sounds like He's clearly the superior of the two.' In other words, it's possible to use God's power to keep Diablo in check." Kaito laid out the information he'd heard from the Saint. Jeanne narrowed her eyes, seemingly unable to understand what he meant. However, Kaito didn't elaborate on his explanation. He simply snapped his fingers. All at once, a shower of white surrounded Jeanne as the feathers growing from her body burst off. Countless invisible shackles clattered as they successively came undone. This time, Jeanne widened her eyes in shock. Her contract with God had been forcibly transferred. The other party, of course, went without saying. "Hanged Man, you can'tâ€”!" "You did good, Jeanne. Time for you to go home." The way Kaito spoke those words, they sounded almost like a normal salutation. White feathers were sprouting from part of his cheek, but he had God's power under control and was keeping his transformation to the bare minimum. "Izabella, your first love, is waiting for you." "That ain't the problem here, you dumb motherfucker!" In an uncharacteristic gesture, Jeanne frantically extended her hand toward him. But her fingertips met nothing but air. The briars had released her. The pillar itself was nothing but a husk now, so it had no more need for its sacrifice. Jeanne began falling. The golden girl descended like a bird struck out of the air. However, a bolt of light hurtled toward her landing point like a meteor. Before Jeanne could hit the ground, Izabella dashed up and caught her. It was the very image of a knight catching a princess in their arms. After making sure Jeanne was breathing, Izabella let out a sigh of relief and hugged Jeanne's wound-riddled body, golden hair and all. Jeanne, comically flustered, was saying something to her. As he gazed down at them, Kaito murmured in admiration. "Well, that's nice... Seems like there's hope for her yet." As he stood on his tiptoes, Kaito gave a pleased nod. Then he grabbed the feathers on his face and wrenched them out by the handful. Blood gushed forth, but he ignored it. He turned toward the Diablo pillar and headed straight for its briar-enclosed core. A single woman was sleeping inside it. She had black hair, white skin, crimson eyes, and a radiant beauty. And she was the person Kaito admired most. "Good work, Elisabeth. Don't worry, I'm here now. You're probably gonna be pissed at me, though." He'd once boasted that he'd save the world. That he'd rescue everything. However, killing Elisabeth Le Fanu was impossible for Kaito Sena. *** If he couldn't kill her, then... ...that would mean... At that moment, he gave voice to the sole, unspoken answer. "Because I'm taking charge of God and Diablo both." That was the act of selfishness Kaito Sena had decided on. He'd take on a burden greater than even the Saint's. 12 Kaito Sena's Story It's time for a story. It's the story of a boy who was brutally killed by another, and a story of a monster who cruelly killed others. Or perhaps it's a story of a child who was abandoned by his parents, and a hero who was abandoned by the world. Either way, it's a story of admiration and folly. It's a story of love, but not a story of romance. Someday, it will likely be remembered as a tale from long, long ago. A horrible, tragic little anecdote. One that was far too twisted to pass off as a fairy tale. Kaito Sena raised his hand, extending it straight toward Elisabeth. He had no intention of exchanging final words of farewell. After all, what he was doing was nothing more than an act of selfishness. Elisabeth was definitely going to be livid. Because of that, he'd completely cast aside his desire to talk to her. Instead, he just burned her briar-entwined figure into his eyes. Then he prepared to snap his fingers. But when he did. He heard a painfully nostalgic voice. "Ce...ase...this...non...sense..." "Whaâ€”?" Kaito let out an involuntary yelp. The captive before him had moved. Normally, that shouldn't have been possible. Although the pillar was forcibly keeping her alive, she didn't even currently have a heart. In an absurd display of willpower, though, Elisabeth had opened her eyes. Their piercing, crimson gaze was directed straight at Kaito. Naturally, he let out a surprised "uh..." Then in his typical disrespectful tone, he spoke: "Geez... Dial down the mental fortitude a bit. Or, like, the resilience." "You...fool... 'Tis true, I did...give it to you... I even...told you...to save the world..." "That you did. You even gave me your heart." "But I never...told you to...shoulder...such aâ€” Khagh!" Then Elisabeth coughed. Instead of blood, feathers came pouring from her lungs. As the black feathers fluttered away, she glared at him. Kaito flashed her an awkward smile. The moment she'd been captured by the pillar, Elisabeth had handed her heart over to him with the following words: "Drink them down or spit them all up, the choice is yours to make. But do try to live on, Kaito. "And when you do, save the world. Your strength is equal to the task, as is your needless determination. "You are the greatest fool this world has to offerâ€”and you are my dim-witted servant, my pride and joy." Her voice had been like someone trying to cheer up a dejected child. However, not once had she asked him to rescue her. Much to the contrary, she was probably planning on waiting there for her death, like a monster who'd bequeathed her sword to a hero. There was no doubt in his mind that she'd expected him to destroy the Diablo pillar. But she'd been naive. There had never been any chance that Kaito Sena would do as she wished. Even so, she repeated herself. The only thing powering her desperate movements was the rage his words had inspired in her. "I told...you...did I not? 'Tis a heavy...thing...to shoulder sins..." The sins of the various races had cultivated a flower, and its blooming was what had brought about this situation. The punishment for their sloth and their ignorance had finally caught up with them. Flocks of sheep were, fundamentally, stupid. Trying to bear the weight of their original sin on one's own was rash in the extreme. Also, living forever was too cruel a fate. Not to mention the fact that Kaito was an outsider to this world. He had no obligation to shoulder the sin that had existed since before the dawn of this world. Elisabeth closed her eyes as if in prayer. Then in a small voice, she continued: "...'Tis too great a burden for you." "I can bear it." Kaito's response came readily. His voice didn't have an ounce of hesitation in it. Elisabeth's eyes shot open as if she'd been slapped. She looked at Kaito's face. The moment she did, her own face contorted, as though she was on the verge of tears. She understood. Time's passage was cruel and unfeeling. Nothing remained the same forever. "When did you...become able to...make such an...expression, you fool?" "Honestly, I don't know myself. But because I've changed, there are things I'm able to protect now." Kaito's expression wasn't that of the powerless boy he'd once been. It was the calm face of a person filled with resolve. The pain he'd experienced, the countless times he'd died, and the innumerable horrors he'd seen had completely painted over his fear and hopelessness. At this point, no words would make his heart waver. Elisabeth cast her gaze down. A faint murmur escaped her lips. "I... This is not what I summoned you to do." "...I know." "I merely wanted you...to handle my chores." "Ah yeah... I never did get the hang of cooking, did I?" "You did...one unnecessary thing...after another...my dim-witted servant..." "Yeah, and you're the only one." The only one who'd never called him the Mad King. And with that, Kaito nodded. He snapped his fingers, and his chest and ribs tore open. Chunks of flesh went flying off into space. His rib cage was in full bloom. A pulsating organ appeared from within. The organ transformed into crimson flower petals, then leaped into Elisabeth's mouth. Her heart had returned to its rightful place. "I'm giving it back." *** Kaito's body didn't require a heart anymore. Such was the realm he now stood in. Elisabeth shuddered at that fact. As he was now, he was a fitting vessel to bear both God and Diablo. But... ...he was still Kaito Sena. He was just Kaito Sena. He'd completely changed, but he was still her same dull, kindhearted, foolish servant as ever. Yet he spoke in the voice of a grizzled veteran. "Thank you, Elisabeth." "What do you intend to do about your promise?!" Suddenly, Elisabeth let out an articulate shout. She turned up her downcast face. She hadn't been crying. She glared at Kaito with eyes full of anger and indignation. "You told me, did you not?! You said you would remain by my side! You and you alone!" "And hey, you bringing me back to life and summoning me here must have been some kind of fate... So until you start walking the road to Hell, I'll try and stick by your side for as long as I can, even if I'm the only one." It was a promise the two of them had exchanged long ago. Kaito had sworn it to her back in her castle, right after they'd finished subjugating the Kaiser. Throughout Elisabeth Le Fanu's bloody life, she was accompanied by a single foolish servant. Kaito thought that sounded just fine. Neither of them had mentioned the promise out loud. But both of them knew. They both knew the other had thought it. "Don't worry, I plan on keeping it." Kaito spoke with complete composure. Elisabeth opened her mouth, as though to say, How? How do you intend on keeping it? But as she did, she suddenly realized the foolishness of the question she was about to ask. After the last rebuilding, the Saint had slumbered away inside a crystal. One who had taken that burden upon themself lost the ability to die. For the full span of Elisabeth Le Fanu's bloody lifeâ€” â€”that foolish servant of hers would never leave. *** "Elisabeth. This foolish servant of yours will be by your side to the very end." Elisabeth extended a trembling arm. Kaito held his hand aloft. The Torture Princess struggled, trying desperately to grasp at his distant palm. But briars rose up one after another to stop her. Her already-broken fingers tore even further. She retched up blood. Yet just as she once had, she continued resisting. However, Kaito's figure remained distant. A smile crossed his face, and he got ready to snap his fingers. But suddenly, as if he'd just thought of something, he opened his mouth and spoke: "That reminds meâ€”I told you once in a dream, but...I never said it to you in real life." "What is it...? What...is it...?" "I love you, Elisabeth." His words pierced her like a long sword. There was a brutal, kind truth to them. Heartbroken, Elisabeth stared at Kaito. She studied his face. He was smiling like a childâ€” â€”his eyes still glittering as though gazing upon a revered hero. "For your sake, I could do or become anything." "â€”You can't! You mustn't!" Elisabeth tried to scream. But Kaito wasn't listening anymore. He hadn't been looking to coerce a response out of her; he'd merely said what he wanted to say. He gently waved his other hand at her. "Good-bye, Elisabeth." "'Twould be far better it wereâ€”" And without hearing her shoutâ€” "'Twould be far better it were Iâ€”" â€”Kaito Sena snapped his fingers. Countless invisible shackles clattered as they successively came undone. The ebony princess fell, as though she'd been struck