[User] “I had no idea you actually had something you wanted to tell me.”

[Assistant] “Well, what’s done is done. And perhaps it’s fine. I’ve yet to get all my thoughts in order.”

[User] Vlad ignored Kaito’s apology and began mumbling to himself. He clutched at his raven locks like a man possessed, ruining his normally impeccable hairdo as he started laying out his thoughts. “If one is lost, they need but retrace their steps. Where did the malaise originate? Right, from the Grave Keeper’s words and deeds. It seems that we’ve all been dancing atop the Saint’s palm. Since when, though? The golden Torture Princess was created to stave off the restructuring. Was that part of her design? Or was it not?”

[Assistant] Another chill ran down Kaito’s spine. That wasn’t something he had even considered. There were those who’d worked to bring about the restructuring and those who’d worked to prevent it. What had the Saint thought of each of the groups?

[User] “When the alchemists created their golden Torture Princess, they were aware of the black Torture Princess and used her as a reference. However, there was no need for there to be two of them. The alchemists could just as easily have gone to the ebony Torture Princess and sought out her aid. They hadn’t expected her to exist, and they chose not to rely on her. They had their pride, after all; it was the sole end their clan had been living toward. Instead, they tried to have their golden Torture Princess take the black Torture Princess on as a follower, and in doing so make it so their creation was the primary force to prevent the restructuring. But what if, say, she anticipated their pride?”

[Assistant] “If the Saint predicted that another Torture Princess would be created… Then what?”

[User] “Then there would be ‘two.’ The Grave Keeper even said it! What we need to pay attention to is the resulting number!” Vlad shouted like a madman. Hina reacted to his menacing demeanor by positioning herself in front of Kaito.

[Assistant] Kaito, shocked, ruminated on what the Grave Keeper had told him. “The fact that the whelp served as a guide was proof. The fact that he sought ‘two’ was proof.”

[User] “In the end, those who sought to prevent the restructuring and those who sought to bring it about arrived at the same method—‘finding the Saint.’ And the Butcher said that the black Torture Princess’s resistance was unexpected. Up until she arrived, he probably was simply aiming for the world’s restructuring. But if his objective changed upon the arrival of the black Torture Princess and the creation of the golden Torture Princess that accompanied it, if it took on a form closer to that of the Saint’s true desire… Oh, oh, that’s it!”

[Assistant] “What is?”

[User] “The ‘significance of the two.’” Vlad’s eyes widened, and his words served as the trigger that set Kaito’s thoughts into overdrive. Why had the Butcher, and the Saint, needed two people?


[User] What was the meaning behind that number? What will happen when she assembles those two unbelievably powerful women? What will she be able to do? Kaito spun around. Elisabeth and Jeanne had just reached the crystal. The two of them smoothly raised their arms, and gold and crimson flower petals began swirling. As he gazed at their elegant backs, Vlad spoke in a hoarse voice.

[Assistant] “The two Torture Princesses. God and Diablo.”

[User] Kaito didn’t fully understand what those words signified, but their ominous nature was all too clear. Vlad’s murmur had an almost prophetic ring to it. Dull as he was, Kaito could understand that much. Something irreparably wrong was happening, here and now. And once it occurred, it could never be undone. It was something he had to stop at all costs. “Stop, stop, run, get away from there! Elisabeeeeeeeeth!” Kaito screamed, driven by impulse alone. His voice tore violently through the still, quiet air. Elisabeth’s black hair fluttered as she turned. Her beautiful crimson eyes landed on Kaito. Her expression was annoyed, confused, and a little bit listless. It was the same face as it had always been, yet, for some reason, it seared itself into Kaito’s eyes. And then, suddenly, something grabbed her wrist from behind. Kaito was sure of what he’d seen. Two white arms had extended out from the red crystal. Fingers so pale that they seemed almost dead wrapped tightly around the ebony and golden Torture Princesses’ wrists. Elisabeth’s and Jeanne’s eyes opened wide. At some point, the surface of the crystal had turned soft and blurry and begun vibrating. After the arms came out, they were followed by a head. The woman slid out from within the crystal as though it were birthing her. Then she toppled awkwardly to the ground. She shook her head, spraying red droplets around her. Kaito immediately realized: They were the tears that had been running down her cheeks. The Saint then lifted her head.

[Assistant] “Ahhh…you’ve finally come.” The whisper that came from her lips had a strangely sweet echo to it, and it traveled like a wave, reaching all the way to Kaito. "My new Saints."


[User] It was a declaration pregnant with unfathomable madness and a terrifying degree of volition. In the next instant, crimson and gold flower petals began pouring out from her palms. The two hues swallowed up the Torture Princesses.

[Assistant] Elisabeth tried to summon a torture device, but petals rushed at her hands and lips, sealing them off.

[User] Jeanne’s eyes began wandering. She was searching for Deus Ex Machina. Right now, though, it was serving as parts of Izabella’s body. No longer could it come to its master’s aid.

[Assistant] "I see. This falls outside my expectations.” As she murmured, Jeanne gave a faint laugh. Those proved to be her final words. The crimson and gold petals completely engulfed the two Torture Princesses. Even so, the naked woman refused to release their wrists. Red, capillary-vessel-like tubes tore as she wrenched even the tips of her toes free from the crystal. Now fully free, she looked up and parted her lips. Her rows of startlingly white, well-formed teeth came into view.

[User] “Ha-ha… Ah-ha-ha-ha, ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha!” The Saint began laughing uproariously. The sound of her mad laughs tore through the air.

[Assistant] As he shuddered, Kaito got ready to level an attack at her. However, he stopped. He couldn’t sense any power coming from the cackling woman. She’s just…a normal woman. She had already transferred the things that had made her into the Suffering Saint. She’d transferred them into the two Torture Princesses. The next moment, Kaito heard a voice deep in his eardrum.

[User] Hina pressed down on her ears.

[Assistant] Lute gave a small yelp. It was being conveyed in every imaginable language, in the words of men, of demi-humans, of beastfolk, of animals, of fish, of bugs, even in languages from other worlds. It was transmitted to every living creature in a mysterious form they could all comprehend. The voice belonged to one who’d been sleeping far, far away, deep in the bowels beneath the Capital.

[User] "Good morning."

[Assistant] Kaito understood on instinct alone. Freed from its contractor’s order, the first demon had vanished from its cradle. And when it had, it had transferred into the body of its new contractor: Elisabeth Le Fanu.


[User] Vlad began speaking, his voice solemn. It was no fairy tale. The entire situation had been a farce.

[Assistant] "It all began when the Butcher sold me the demon meat entrusted to him by the Saint.” With that, the man responsible for part of the world’s reconstruction had set the ball in motion.

[User] By eating the demon meat and collecting the pain of others, Vlad had been able to summon the Kaiser. Then he’d gathered up other people who wanted to summon demons and guided them on their ways. And the demon army fourteen strong had arisen.

[Assistant] At that point, the Butcher’s goal had simply been to have the mighty band of demons overrun the world, then to wake up the Saint once the world was in a state where she could wield the power of restructuring. The reason he’d picked Vlad was likely because Vlad had both the power and the inclination to unify the demons.

[User] But then someone had appeared, someone who opposed his dreadful plot. The woman who’d eaten demon meat, tortured her people, and obtained the power to fight back. The Torture Princess, peerless sinner that she was—Elisabeth Le Fanu.

[Assistant] Under the orders of the Church, she had begun hunting the fourteen demons. After hearing that Vlad had been captured, the Butcher had made his way to Elisabeth’s side, then taken stock of the situation.

[User] At around that time, another faction had made their play as well: the alchemist clan that had hidden themselves away long ago. Knowing that the first demon would appear, they devoted many generations to working toward preventing the world from being reconstructed.

[Assistant] Upon seeing the fourteen demons run rampant, they realized that the time was upon them and used the ebony Torture Princess as a reference to create the golden one. However, the fact that their pride and obstinacy led them to entrust matters to their own masterpiece instead of giving the raven-haired Torture Princess their support proved to be a fatal blunder.

[User] Once the Butcher learned of the two Torture Princesses, he changed his plan in order to take advantage of the alchemists’ goal and use it against them. After inviting the Torture Princesses to the World’s End, he sacrificed himself to bring them face-to-face with the Saint.

[Assistant] The Grave Keeper, having sensed the Apostle’s plan, got to work as well, and the two Torture Princesses were left with no way to avoid being captured. And then, finally, the Saint used them as exceptional vessels, transferring the contracts with God and Diablo she bored into their bodies.

[User] “What, then, was the Saint’s true wish?” The Butcher had originally been following the Saint’s orders and trying to bring about the world’s restructuring. At the last minute, though, his objective changed into transferring the contracts binding the Saint over to them. But those contracts were too much for the Torture Princesses to withstand.


[User] “Given all that, we can deduce that the Saint’s objective wasn’t the restructuring itself. In all likelihood, she merely needed the world to sustain fatal damage from the demons before she could wield God’s power. Only at the time of restructuring could she awaken with the ability to use both God’s and Diablo’s powers as she pleased. And that would also be the only time she could abandon their strength.”

[Assistant] “She cared little for her own survival, nor for the fate of the world. She merely wanted to set down her burden, even if but for a moment. There was nothing more to it, I’d wager.”

[User] “The Butcher worked ceaselessly toward bringing about that promised day, deftly manipulating us all the while.”


[Assistant] Vlad laid out his theory, Kaito didn’t offer a single interjection. His head was nestled in Hina’s lap, and the rest of his body was lying atop the solemn stone floor. They had already left the World’s End. Now they were back at Elisabeth’s castle. Hina, Lute, and Izabella were resting in the castle’s owner’s empty bedroom. Vlad was floating in front of the three of them. His legs were crossed gracefully, and he was silent, his lecture now complete. Kaito remained on his side, not saying anything. Beads of cold sweat were welling up on his forehead. His teeth were clenched tight as he tried to endure the waves of pain coursing through his body. Every few minutes, he lapsed into violent coughs and spat up blood.

[User] Hina wiped the blood away so it wouldn’t flow back into his trachea, she stroked his brow. “Please, Master Kaito, get ahold of yourself. Oh, whatever am I to do…?”

[Assistant] “…Are you quite all right, my dear successor? Or did perhaps my explanation go to waste?”

[User] “…Don’t worry…about that… I heard…it all—Gah!” Kaito let out another pained cry.

[Assistant] Hina helplessly mopped the sweat off his forehead. Kaito tried to suppress the pain gushing from within him so he could think Vlad’s explanation over.


[Assistant] The cliff-top castle was surrounded by trees and far from any human settlements. Yet, in spite of that, screams and laughter filled the air around it. However, it wasn’t humans that the voices were coming from. The world outside had become a living hell. Demonic underlings laughed as they soared past the window. One monkey-like underling peeked inside. Kaito’s eyes were still closed as he snapped his fingers. His blade swung precisely, cleaving off the underling’s wings. It let out a loud scream as it began tumbling down. In the space of an instant, Kaito forgot all about it. Elisabeth… As he continued coughing up blood, his thoughts turned to the events that had just occurred. The gut-wrenching spectacle played out once more before his eyes. First, the petals engulfing Elisabeth and Jeanne all vanished. The two of them suddenly found themselves free. And at a glance, their bodies seemed the same as ever. Their faces contorted in confusion. Then, though, without warning, the horrible transformation began.

[User] “…Rgh!”

[Assistant] “What’s the matter, miss? I—Ow!”

[User] A single strand of dark-red blood had begun running down Elisabeth’s shoulder, and the same had happened to Jeanne’s arm. It was like they’d each been stabbed with a sharp needle. But no one had attacked them. Their skin had been impaled by something hard and pointy yet, at the same time, also soft from within. A black feather peeked out from Elisabeth’s skin, and a white feather did the same from Jeanne’s. It was immediately clear that something was wrong. After all, feathers had just sprouted from human flesh.

[Assistant] “This is…”

[User] “…Impossible.”

[Assistant] The two of them exchanged a glance. But they didn’t have time to leisurely discuss the phenomenon assailing them.


[User] Accompanied by a loud popping noise, another feather protruded out from each of them. It was as though the two of them were down pillows, and their stuffing was bursting through their cloth. Feathers began tearing out from within them, one after another. Streaks of red blood once more made their way across the Torture Princesses’ bodies. Kaito was struck with an ominous premonition. A moment later, that premonition came to pass. Pop! Pop! Pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop, pop! Pop! Just hearing it was enough to evoke the image of goose bumps rising up in succession. The patterns of erosion resembled vegetation budding. Feathers began sprouting from all over their bodies, like carelessly strewn seeds indiscriminately tearing apart the earth. They flew out from their cheeks, their backs, their eyes, their lips, and even their gums. Elisabeth’s and Jeanne’s bodies wordlessly writhed. They were clearly in incredible pain. In the blink of an eye, the two Torture Princesses had come to resemble newborn chicks. Elisabeth and Jeanne were being forcibly turned into something foreign. The moment that fact hit him, Kaito recovered from his state of shock. The same seemed to be true of Hina. Letting out loud cries, the two of them dashed forward.

[Assistant] “Elisabeth!”

[User] “Lady Elisabeth!”

[Assistant] "Stay awaaaaaaaaaaaay!” As she rebuked them, Elisabeth coughed up blood. Kaito and Hina reflexively froze in place. The next moment, the countless feathers sprouting from the Torture Princesses extended with explosive force, each one of the black and white quills growing to massive proportions. Then the two sets merged together, and they formed a pair of contrasting wings. However, the wings slumped to the ground, unable to support their own weight. They writhed there grotesquely. Eventually, they gave up on trying to fly. Instead, the two damp wings pushed off against the ground like a set of arms. At their center, Elisabeth and Jeanne rose into the air. Then, supported by the inverted wings, they hung there, suspended. As they did, crimson and gold flower petals began gently descending. They spread out through the air, as though they had come to replace the no-longer-falling snow. As he gazed upon the cruelly beautiful spectacle, Kaito’s eyes widened. The petals were pouring out from within the Torture Princesses’ lips. Several of the thin red and gold sheets wound together, taking on the shape of full flowers and decorating Elisabeth and Jeanne. Then thorny briars wound around their bodies like snakes, binding their masters’ bodies and refusing to let them go. Finally, the thorns wrapped around their heads like crowns. The two of them hung in the air, crucified. They looked almost noble. And at the same time, they looked like sinners, kings who lorded over all of creation. The Saint still hadn’t stopped laughing. With her maddened fit as a backdrop, Kaito was reminded of what the Grave Keeper had said.

[User] “Hallelujah.”

[Assistant] So this transformation’s what she was alluding to?


[User] As he watched the changes the two Torture Princesses were going through, Kaito came to understand just how outstanding of a vessel the Saint had been. The fact that she’d been able to put Diablo to sleep, shelter God within her body, and still maintain her human form was nothing short of a miracle. In truth, her ability to keep the two of them from running amok was a feat so impressive, no words could do it justice. But now, she’d given up on doing so, and the result was the scene before them. Whether he wanted to or not, Kaito immediately understood. What he was looking at was calamity incarnate. Those two pillars of black and crimson, white and gold, would bring about an end to everything.

[Assistant] There’s no way… The world can’t just be ending before my eyes…can it? For the first time in over a decade, Kaito was struck by an urge to scream and cry at his own powerlessness. The despair of it all made him want to just topple to his knees, tremble, and start wailing. Terror that no living creature could overcome seized him and refused to let go. But Kaito gritted his teeth and forced down all those emotions. He took a step forward.

[User] “Master Kaito, you mustn’t! It’s dangerous!” Hina called out in a panic.

[Assistant] “I know that. But I can’t just watch this happen.” Wallowing in terror and despair would accomplish nothing. Even in the face of his all-encompassing demise, he refused to stand by powerlessly and grieve. After all… …Just who is it in the middle of all that? Kaito looked up high in the sky. A single woman was hanging there, her eyes closed. The person who’d saved him, the girl who had laughed so innocently, was being crucified. She wasn’t the Saint. In the beginning, she hadn’t even been the Torture Princess. She was Elisabeth Le Fanu. The woman Kaito Sena admired most.

[User] “Elisabeth!” Kaito screamed her name. Then, after shaking off the trepidation running through his body, he dashed toward the pillar. Because Kaito knew something. Screw terror. Despair? And the end of the world? So what? The thought of losing you is way scarier than any of that. Kaito Sena had sworn that, until the day he died, he would stay by Elisabeth Le Fanu’s side. And he had no intention of breaking that promise. Kaito finally arrived at the base of Elisabeth’s pillar. He reached out to grab one of the briars winding around her wing. His skin tore, and pain shot through his body. It felt like he was clutching at barbed wire. But he didn’t let go. Lifting his feet up onto the briar, he began trying to climb the wing. His beastly hand and his human both ran red as he tried to get closer to the captured woman.

[Assistant] “Elisabeth! …Rgh!” Suddenly, the feathers and thorns proliferated, nearly swallowing Kaito up.


[User] At the last moment, though, someone yanked him backward by the nape of his neck and saved him.

[Assistant] Kaito was about to call out Hina’s name, but he was mistaken because he turned around and found Kaiser. “…Kaiser?”

[User] “Your foe may be the eminent Diablo, but so long as you are my contractor, I forbid you from allowing yourself to be unceremoniously consumed, O unworthy master of mine! To think, though, that it would come to this… I’d stayed on the sidelines, thinking the situation trifling, but this, truly, is proof that I was a fool! Ah, how vexing!” As he bayed, the Kaiser flung Kaito into the air. Then the supreme hound vanished.

[Assistant] Hina, who’d rushed up close, barely managed to catch Kaito, with large tears welling up in her emerald eyes. “Master Kaito, I know how you feel! I…I, too, desperately don’t want to let Elisabeth go! But please, you have to endure it. You’re so wounded…” She squeezed him tight with all her might.

[User] “Hina… I’m sorry. I just…” As he rubbed Hina’s back, Kaito took another look at their surroundings.

[Assistant] Vlad had moved over to where the two pillars stood. His arms were spread wide, and his eyes were glittering as he gazed at the Torture Princesses’ transformations. “It’s magnificent… It’s the peak of beauty, the apex of ugliness… Truly, ‘magnificent’ is the only way to describe it.” His face was as innocent as a child watching a meteor shower. However, his expression suddenly took a more serious turn as he began rapidly coming back to his senses, starting to think. “…Still, though… Hmm…” While he did, the Torture Princesses continued transforming. Their engorged wings and briars slipped down under the icy ground, eroding it away. The milky-white sky quickly grew muddied as well. The rainbow film froze over into a leaden gray. The God and Diablo pillars spread out their arms, ever wider, ever farther.

[User] Hearing a trembling voice, Kaito looked down as Lute was cowering on the ground, his tail completely curled up. However, he was holding Izabella firmly. “Is this…the end? At this rate… At this rate, everything will come to an end. How can we stand up to such a thing?” Words tumbled weakly from Lute’s mouth as he stared at the growing horrors before them.


[User] The briars writhed, and a trembling arm thrust its way out from each pillar. The Torture Princesses had forced their bodies to move. Their eyes still closed, they tore at what bound them, their own skin and all. Then they raised their arms high, and their soundless voices rang out. Begone from this place. Make haste. Please run, Fools. At the same time, they also snapped their fingers. Black darkness and white light flashed, and crimson and gold flower petals started raining down. They then formed a cylindrical wall with Kaito and the others at its center. A teleportation circle was being etched in the ice.

[Assistant] “…!” On impulse, Kaito tried to dive out of it. He needed to remain by Elisabeth’s side. However, he found himself unable to move.

[User] One of Lute’s arms holding him back.

[Assistant] Both of Hina’s arms were holding him back.

[User] “Let go of me! Elisabeth is—I can’t just leave her alone like that!” He raged like a wounded beast and screamed.

[Assistant] “I understand your loyalty and affection for your master, I truly do! But even if you hate me for it, I won’t let you go! What do you hope to accomplish by staying here? Think of your wife!”

[User] “But—!”

[Assistant] “…Master Kaito, please listen to me.” Suddenly, Hina whispered, her voice gentle and calm. She wasn’t crying anymore. Her beautiful, clear emerald eyes were fixed on Kaito alone. "If that is your answer, Master Kaito, if you say that that is your sole wish, then I will release you.”

[User] “Ms. Hina?”

[Assistant] “But if you do, then I will remain here as well.” Hina made her declaration calmly. Then she gently unbound her arms to tell Kaito that the choice was his.

[User] Kaito gulped.

[Assistant] Hina took a step back, then smiled at him. “It would be my pleasure to remain with my dear Lady Elisabeth and die alongside you, my beloved.” There was no reproach in her eyes and no anger. Only pure, unadulterated love.

[User] Because of that, he was able to stop. Then he deliberately took a long, deep breath. The strained energy that had built up in his body dissipated. He went limp, then collapsed backward.

[Assistant] Hina made sure to catch him.

[User] “…I’m sorry. I’m good now. God, I’m supposed to be your husband, but I—” As he lay in her arms, he let out a weak murmur.

[Assistant] “It’s no matter. Anything you hold precious is just as precious to me.” Hina gently stroked Kaito’s head.

[User] As he clung to her warmth to maintain his sanity, Kaito’s thoughts turned. Right now, there’s nothing we can do here. We need to get a fresh start.


[User] Kaito looked up through the interweaving light and petals.

[Assistant] “Wh…?”

[User] Hina seemed to have sensed something as she released him from her arms.

[Assistant] Kaito tottered a few steps forward. Then he extended his bloodstained hand to the edge of the teleportation circle and let out a fitful shout. “Don’t go… Don’t go, Elisabeth!”

[User] As he shouted to Elisabeth, he shouted at himself internally.

[Assistant] “You’re the one who called me, Elisabeth! You’re the one who called me to this world! You ordered me to become your servant, didn’t you? And you’re gonna go anyway? You’re gonna go off all on your own anyway? !” Blood dripped down his fist. Tears dripped down his cheek.

[User] Weeping with all his might, he screamed again. “Please, Elisabeth, don’t leave me! I don’t want you to go!” Kaito reached out his hand as he pleaded with the person he could no longer reach. “Please don’t leave me,” he implored her like a child. “Not now that I’ve finally met you,” he cried. “I’d rather watch the world get destroyed than lose you!”

[Assistant] Then, at the far end of his vision, Elisabeth opened her eyes. “…Huh?”

[User] For a second, Kaito doubted his sight, thinking it nothing more than a fanciful delusion.

[Assistant] Her crimson eyes were assuredly focused on him. Her lips silently moved. What poured out from them was blood. In what no doubt caused her a great deal of pain, she contorted her lips into a smile. And when she did, she whispered. “…………You utter fool.”

[User] It was a heartrending, nostalgic voice. Elisabeth then reached out her trembling arm, as though trying to grasp Kaito’s palm in reply. Briars wound around it, trying to stop her. But Elisabeth resisted them. She extended her hand straight forward.

[Assistant] After displaying another abrupt smile, Elisabeth lowered her arm. Instead, she now snapped her fingers once more. Her fingers broke. Their skin tore, and their bones fractured. Yet, even so, her whispers had a strange warmth to them. “You don’t want this; you don’t want that, eh?


[User] "Well, if you despise being alone so badly, then I shall grant it to you. ’Tis my loss, O peerless fool. I give unto you my everything. Do with it as you please.” Crimson petals flitted through the air, then coalesced into a sphere. It soared away from Diablo’s pillar and floated gently through the sky. Then, all at once, the petals rushed between Kaito’s lips. His mouth filled with the sharp stink of rust and the taste of flesh. Understanding intuitively what it was, Kaito widened his eyes. He looked up at Elisabeth.

[Assistant] "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 offer—and you are my dim-witted servant, my pride and joy.” Her voice sounded almost like someone trying to cheer up a dejected child.

[User] Kaito stared straight at Elisabeth. Then, with a gulp, he swallowed the petals down. The moment he did, he clutched at his chest, and his knees crumpled. He began violently heaving up blood.

[Assistant] “Master Kaito!”

[User] “S-Sir Kaito!”

[Assistant] “Geh… Urgh, ugh, gah, geh, blegh!” As he heard Hina and Lute cry out, Kaito collapsed in pain. Despite that, though, he looked up. He was weeping and coughing up blood, but he looked straight at Elisabeth. He lifted his trembling arm. Then he stuck his thumb up to say, Don’t worry. I received it.

[User] Both of their faces were haggard, but they exchanged a smile. Elisabeth, having used all her strength, closed her eyes back up. In truth, she’d probably hit her limit long ago. She quickly lost consciousness. Jeanne’s eyes were still closed as well. However, the teleportation circle activated automatically. Kaito and the others had their vision covered by compound walls of crimson and gold, darkness and light. In the final moment before the world faded away, though, Kaito witnessed something. The pillars had begun undergoing even more radical change. A flock of black birds took off from Diablo’s. To be more specific, they weren’t birds at all. They had a variety of shapes and forms, but every one of them was an underling. Amid the growing tempest of pain raging within his body, a thought crossed Kaito’s mind.

[Assistant] Oh man… The world’s gonna become hell, isn’t it? And the way things were going, everything was going to end.


[User] “We need to inform Lady Vyade Ula Forstlast of what we’ve learned.” Back in Elisabeth’s castle, Lute gave a quiet murmur.

[Assistant] “If things continue on like this, the world really will cease to exist. I can’t simply sit quietly and wait for it to meet its end. We’ll need to get in contact with the demi-humans…the humans, even, too, and come up with a plan together.” Lute squeezed Izabella tight.

[User] He gazed at her mechanically supplemented face, then whispered so as not to wake her. “And as for Ms. Izabella Vicker, I was thinking of leaving her in my wife’s care. The two of them are on good terms, and as her body is right now, Ms. Izabella might be in need of my wife’s skills as a healer. I can promise you that no harm will come to her under my wife’s watch. Does that sound reasonable?”

[Assistant] “Yeah, that sounds good. It would probably give Jeanne some peace of—Geh!” While he was replying, Kaito heaved up even more blood.

[User] Lute’s eyes went wide with alarm.

[Assistant] Can humans really survive after losing that much blood? Lute found himself bewildered. He called out worriedly to the back of Kaito’s head. “Sir Kaito, what’s the matter? Ever since we returned from the World’s End, you’ve been coughing up blood incessantly. Are you certain you’re all right?”

[User] “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine… I’m fine. I’m getting used to it. I’ll get better at it soon.”

[Assistant] “Better at what?” wondered Lute. But before he could ask, strange noises drowned him out. Skreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! Scraaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaw!

[User] Lute frantically leaped away from the window. As he did, their assailants all flew into the bedroom. After carefully setting Izabella down on the floor, Lute drew his sword.

[Assistant] The time has come for me to repay the debts I’ve incurred!


[User] As that thought raced through his mind, Kaito, who was still down on the floor, weakly raised his arm. Then he snapped his wounded fingers. “La (become).” And with that, ten blades appeared in midair.

[Assistant] Dozens of silver flashes filled the air. Each of the blades had silently traveled across the room several times. The underlings were sliced to ribbons. Their diced-up flesh toppled to the ground, and their organs all spilled out.

[User] Faced with that overwhelming display of power, Lute found himself at a loss for words. Still holding his sword at the ready, he stared at Kaito in astonishment.

[Assistant] Kaito himself hadn’t even watched his foes die. He was down on his hands and knees, coughing up blood once more. Lute was overcome with shock. Hina was at a loss for words, too. Only Vlad laughed. That was just how abnormal Kaito’s deed had been. As he was normally, it would have been wholly beyond him. Without power on par with the Torture Princess’s, carrying out that kind of unilateral slaughter would be impossible.

[User] “Sir Kaito, what in the world—?”

[Assistant] “Over here… C’mon, over here. Good boy.” Kaito raised his bloodstained, beastly arm, and the rescued communication device obeyed his summons and landed on his palm. Its feathers then tumbled off, revealing its glossy surface and the unencrypted runes thereon. Historically, Kaito hadn’t been able to read them. Now, though, he nodded casually and rose to his feet.

[User] “Perfect. It was a message from the Church… Looks like Vyade Ula Forstlast is already putting stuff into motion off the reports your men gave her. And the demi-humans who were at the World’s End went home and started mobilizing, too. Underlings are sprouting up all over. And because of the initial info the returnees brought back, the Church is getting bombarded with reproach and mistrust. The message was about a summit the three races are planning on holding together. Looks like things are moving fast, which is good. Sounds like at least someone over there knows what they’re doing.”

[Assistant] Kaito laughed. When he did, though, blood came gushing from his mouth. His black uniform was stained a wet crimson. As blood dripped all over his body, he righted his posture. Then he chucked the communication device to the side. The violence of that action seemed strangely reminiscent of Elisabeth.

[User] “The funny thing is, the sender was La Christoph. Which is weird, ’cause there’s no way the Church hasn’t written off Elisabeth as a traitor. For him to send her a message, man, he must have had some pretty strong thoughts about Izabella getting locked up. Hell, he even sent us coordinates. And hey, if we’ve got an invitation, it’d be rude not to go, right?”

[Assistant] “Go? Where to?”

[User] “The summit, where else? Time to crash a party. I’ll handle the teleportation circle.” That was just one more thing he casually mentioned that he wasn’t supposed to be able to do.


[User] At Kaito’s suggestion, Vlad had temporarily hidden his form, and the other three of them headed for the palace. Using the coordinates that the communication device had left for them, they carried out their teleportation. Azure flower petals rose up, formed a cylindrical wall, then collapsed.

[Assistant] Lute squinted as he looked up at the palace’s familiar form.

[User] “Damn, that’s impressive.”

[Assistant] “That it is. We strive to live in harmony with nature, and the greatest manifestation of that belief is the Three Kings’ palace—the World Tree.” Lute puffed up with pride as he spoke. While he was too polite to say it out loud, he no doubt considered the Three Kings’ palace to be far grander than humanity’s royal castle.


[User] Having received word from Vyade, the gatekeeper led Lute and the others inside. Under normal circumstances, only beastfolk who’d gone through special screening were allowed to stay within the World Tree. At the moment, though, it was crowded with people from every race. Those who hadn’t been allowed in the meeting chamber could be seen all over the place. Several beastfolk and demi-human soldiers were enjoying their rare reunion and exchanging ardent handshakes. A group of exhausted paladins were keeled over atop chairs of mushroom. There were people wearing executioner-like outfits, too, staring forcefully at their surroundings. The demi-humans in front of them were meeting their gazes head-on.

[Assistant] “Yeesh, looks like everyone brought more people than they know what to do with."


[User] "And they say three’s a crowd.” Despite the tension in the air, Kaito strode forward as casually as if he was going for a stroll. With every step he took, the unrest around him grew stronger. Even battle-hardened soldiers receded in shock as he passed by them. The wariness and animosity they felt toward him were all too clear. Who in the world is that? What are they? they all wondered. That spoke to just how abnormal Kaito Sena currently was. Not only was he covered in blood, but he was clad in determination so thick, it was visible. And yet, in spite of all that, he was utterly calm. Some of the people around him even recognized Kaito as the Kaiser’s contractor. But not one of them could work up the courage to cry out and stop him.

[Assistant] Behind him, Lute trembled in concern. He’s clearly no ordinary human… I mean, he was always the Kaiser’s contractor, but now… Just how did he change so absolutely? As he gazed at Kaito’s imposing stature, Lute narrowed his eyes. He seems almost like…the Torture Princess herself. Knowing nothing of Lute’s doubts, though, Kaito just kept casually walking.

[User] “Captain! Thank goodness you’re all right!” Some of the onlookers called to Lute as he walked.

[Assistant] “Why, it’s you all!”


[User] After the rejoicing over their successful reunion, Lute learned a few new things. For example, the Three Kings weren’t planning on attending the meeting. They’d said that they had no intentions of leaving their rooms upon the coast of the lake by the World Tree’s base. They seemed determined to continue their policy of not reigning or governing. Just like always, they were leaving the meeting in the imperial family’s hands. “I see. It’s not that I don’t understand how the Three Kings feel, but…”

[Assistant] “Yeah, it doesn’t fill me with confidence.”

[User] As Lute mumbled beside him, Kaito spoke assuredly.

[Assistant] In truth, Lute felt the same way. And the entirety of Vyade Ula Forstlast’s private army no doubt shared the same misgivings. After all, there were loud voices among the imperial family who sought to expand their borders. The meeting had probably already taken a hairy turn.


[User] Lute ground his teeth as he lamented his absence.

[Assistant] “Sir Lute, congratulations on your safe return.”

[User] “Quick, someone, someone call her over!” He frantically called out for a particular healer.

[Assistant] Her voice sounded disaffected, but anyone who knew Lute’s wife could make out the notes of affection in her tone. “I was sure you’d be all right, but to see you so thoroughly uninjured is rather pleasant, Lute. It looks like I married a good one… I suppose your return can hardly be considered flawless, though.”

[User] “Of course, Ain, I would never dream of worrying you by getting injured. But I…I’ve seen things. I need to go give my report to Lady Vyade Ula Forstlast. While I’m doing that, could I ask you to look after Ms. Izabella?”

[Assistant] “Izabella? Ms. Izabella Vicker? I am rather fond of her, true, but wouldn’t the Church’s healers be better equipped to—? Oh, goodness.” Lute had silently held out Izabella to her. As she gazed at Izabella’s half-mechanized body, Lute’s wife, Ain, immediately sensed just how complicated the situation was. She nodded, then turned around. Her voice was as matter-of-fact as her steps were quick. “She looks to have burned through a great deal of her stamina. Let her rest here. There you go, gently.” Lute followed her orders and set Izabella down on a bed in a quarantined section of the ward for the severely injured. Now they wouldn’t have to worry about anyone seeing her mechanized body. Ain then quickly got to work inspecting Izabella all over. After checking her esophagus and making sure it was functioning properly, she poured a decoction down her throat. Then she started applying ointment to the places where metal and skin joined together. After a little while, Izabella’s breathing grew steady. With a kindly look on her face, Ain stroked her mechanized cheek. Then, though, she suddenly whirled around and stared straight at Kaito. “That should put Ms. Izabella at ease for now, but…you don’t seem quite well, either, do you?”

[User] “Who, me? I mean, I guess I’m covered in blood, but I’m not really injured anywhere. Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine.”

[Assistant] “It isn’t a matter of being injured or not. You seem like yourself right now, yet, at the same time, you seem like someone else.”

[User] Lute gasped a little. He, too, had thought the same thing, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to ask Kaito about it.

[Assistant] Ain’s gaze stayed firmly fixed on Kaito. Not flinching, she probed even deeper.


[User] "I can’t quite put it into words, but…I find that fact rather alarming, no?” A heavy silence descended upon them for a moment. Kaito blinked.

[Assistant] Hina looked down but said nothing. The tension caused Lute’s tail to puff up.

[User] “Ha-ha-ha, you and me both. Man, Lute, you found yourself a good wife.”

[Assistant] “Errr, yes, I’m more than aware… Ow, Ain, don’t step on my feet!”

[User] “Now is hardly the time for that kind of talk, dear. And as for you, you’re certain you’re all right?”

[Assistant] “Yeah… I mean, you’re right. But I’m fine… I’m still me, after all.” Sir Kaito is dodging the question. Lute could feel it. Perhaps Kaito realized it, too, as he gave an awkward smile. Upon seeing it, Lute felt a slight tinge of relief. That good-natured expression was undoubtedly Kaito Sena’s. Suddenly, a thought crossed Lute’s mind. Perhaps… Perhaps I ought to make sure to remember that smile. It would be best if he made sure to remember it, no matter what happened. He didn’t quite know why, but Lute was certain of that.


[User] After leaving the temporary infirmary behind them, Lute and the others began making their way toward the meeting hall once more. Eventually, after traveling down a long, wide hallway, they reached its sole set of double doors. The doors were made from a part of the World Tree itself, and flowers associated with the Three Kings and the various members of the imperial family were delicately carved into its surface. Two muscular lionmen stood in front of its gorgeous design. Upon seeing Lute, the doorkeepers saluted. As they did, they crossed their spears and firmly barred the door. One of them called out briskly to Lute.

[Assistant] “Excellent work, Captain Lute. Lady Vyade Ula Forstlast told us of your expedition. However, the conference has already begun. We cannot allow any to enter, no matter who they may be. You can give your report after the meeting is complete. Until then, you can make yourself at home in the antechamber.”

[User] “What, it started already? Hey, perfect!” Before Lute could reply, though, Kaito poked his head out from behind him. When they saw his bloodstained figure, the lionfolk gatekeepers’ expressions contorted in bald suspicion.

[Assistant] “Wait, who is—?”

[User] “La (take a nap).” Kaito snapped his fingers. When he did, a pair of small blades quietly appeared behind the two gatekeepers, then slammed into the backs of their necks. Concussed, the two of them toppled wordlessly to the ground. As he rushed over and caught one of them in his arms, Lute directed a quiet shout Kaito’s way.

[Assistant] “Sir Kaito, what do you think you’re doing?! There’s no need for such violence!”

[User] “Don’t worry. I controlled it well, if I do say so myself. They’ll be up before you know it.” His voice calm, Kaito reached toward the doors. As he did, Lute suddenly noticed the other collapsed figures throughout the corridor.


[User] Evidently, Kaito had dealt with all the patrolling guards in the same manner. All in that one moment? As Lute tried to come to terms with that fact, he suddenly heard the sound of meat sizzling. Panicking, he looked back toward the doors.

[Assistant] When he did, he discovered that smoke had billowed up from Kaito’s hand as he’d grabbed its handle.

[User] "Damn, that’s a decent barrier they’ve got going on. But still, for it to be able to burn me… I must be more wounded than I thought, huh?" Despite the fact that his own flesh was burning, though, Kaito wore a thin smile on his face. In the blink of an eye, Kaito’s hand had been hideously burned. Its flesh was seared and its skin was peeling off. Yet, he still held on tight.

[Assistant] Hina made no move to stop him. Sizzling blood and bodily fluids ran down the door’s handle. Around it, azure petals and darkness raged like a storm. Then the sound of something splitting rang out.

[User] When it did, the door exploded open from within. The gazes of everyone present—human, beastfolk, demi-human royalty, aristocrats, and clergymen alike—all fell onto Kaito.

[Assistant] "’Scuse the interruption. Here I am, the Torture Princess’s representative." Kaito, for his part, replied with a savage, villainous smile.

[User] Practically everyone present was utterly dumbfounded. Vyade Ula Forstlast and La Christoph merely nodded, though, as if they’d seen this coming.

[Assistant] In the next moment, a number of swords were noisily unsheathed and pointed Kaito’s way. The guards had all drawn their weapons at once. Their response was prompt, as one would expect.

[User] "Such insolence! What business could the Kaiser’s contractor possibly have with us?!" At the same time, one of the Church’s high priests called out.

[Assistant] The guards’ murderous stares bore down on Kaito. As they did, a shrill noise filled the air.

[User] One after another, the guards’ sword blades and spearheads went spinning into the air. Hina’s halberd was magically enhanced and glowing blue, and she’d used it to lop them off. After fully swinging it, she stooped down low like an animal. Then she calmly looked up. The guards were frozen in surprise. She turned her jeweled emerald gaze on them.

[Assistant] "You people have no idea. No idea what he gained. No idea what he lost. Such insolence." Her voice was quiet and cold.

[User] Faced with her stern demeanor, everyone else gasped in fear.

[Assistant] After getting everyone’s attention, he spread his arms out wide. Kaito loudly clapped his hands together.

[User] "Now, if you would all be kind enough to settle down. La Christoph sent me a message about this meeting, and Vyade knows me as well. Furthermore, I serve the Torture Princess, the strongest weapon at the Church’s disposal. I feel like that qualifies me to be here. I’m not gonna leave, but I’m also not gonna get in your way."


[User] "Feel free to carry on." Kaito casually rattled off the names of the authority figures he was acquainted with. Lute’s face went pale, and just as he’d suspected, accusatory glances rained down on the parties in question. However, the third imperial princess of the forest and the astoundingly resolute saint replied nonchalantly.

[Assistant] "I ordered Lute to inform me of what happened at the World’s End. The events that took place there were the root of all evil, the reason we find ourselves gathered here today. If he deems Kaito Sena a necessary witness, then I stand by his decision."

[User] "It’s true. I did, in fact, send for the Torture Princess. After the uproar at the plaza, it became evident that she and Izabella Vicker discovered something down in the depths of the royal tomb. Afterward, the Grave Keeper mobilized the paladins and set off for the World’s End. They should be able to clear up the suspicions the demi-humans have leveled at us, and as such have an obligation to testify."

[Assistant] Their responses were met with a number of angry bellows. Despite the turmoil, though, Kaito flippantly snapped his fingers. Azure petals and black darkness swirled. This time, it was the mages who stood at the ready, but all he did was create a chair. It was the exact same extravagant chair as the one Vlad had summoned in the past.

[User] Kaito took a seat. Then he haughtily placed his arms atop the armrests and crossed his legs. "Go ahead, carry on. The world’s gonna get destroyed if you don’t hurry, right?"

[Assistant] Kaito’s words had a certain truth to them. Furthermore, the sole present saint had endorsed his attendance. And in any case, it wasn’t as though they had any way to expel someone powerful enough to destroy the barrier. The room gradually settled down. Then, reluctantly, they resumed the meeting. And thus, the Kaiser’s contractor, the enemy of humanity, was added to the discussion that would determine the fate of the world.

[User] "It’s true, we have no time. Those two pillars sprouted up at the World’s End, and the underlings coming from the black one are destroying everything in their path. At this rate, all our people will perish. Given the current situation, the chances that the restructuring the Church is so fixated on will actually take place seem rather low."

[Assistant] "…What, that’s as far as you guys have gotten?" Upon hearing the beastfolk official’s speech, Kaito muttered to himself. Apparently, the Church was still placing their faith in the restructuring. But when he thought about it, he realized that he and his group were the only ones to have talked with the Apostle or seen the Saint’s madness firsthand. It was no wonder that there were those who viewed the appearances of the two pillars as a divine miracle and a sign that the restructuring was imminent. Consequently, the meeting had reached an impasse.


[User] “You people don’t share our faith, so you may find it difficult to understand. But we know that the promised day spoken of in legend is at hand. The devout faithful will be welcomed into the new world. You all may lack that qualification, but I’d ask you to kindly avoid gnashing your teeth and referring to it as the end.”

[Assistant] “I see. Then let’s suppose that the current situation is, in fact, part of the restructuring you all are so keen on. Can we then take it that this is what you wanted, that you were the ones who brought this about?” The next individual spoke in a thorny tone. Kaito turned to look at its source.

[User] The foxwoman had silken red fur and a beguiling smile spread across her face. "Be quiet, would you, Vyade? What do you think we stand to accomplish if we don’t know who’s to blame? And we have such a convenient intruder, too. Perhaps it’s high time I divulge a piece of information I’ve been keeping.” The woman’s voice dripped with honey. She was likely the first imperial princess, the one who was focused on expanding the beastfolk territories. The men’s clothing that she wore suited her well. She leaned back in her chair, then crossed her legs in the same manner Kaito had.

[Assistant] Upon hearing her antagonistic response, Vyade called out to reprove her. “Dear sister, shouldn’t we be less concerned with carrying out investigations and more with coordinating our strategies?”

[User] “We’ve already heard from the demi-humans about the horribly transfigured paladin corpses they discovered. As it so happens, they weren’t the only ones who did.”

[Assistant] “…What are you getting at?”

[User] “Immediately after the underlings started appearing and Vyade gave her report, I dispatched several elite members of my private army to the World’s End. Over two-thirds of them died, but their results were more than satisfactory. They brought back the corpses of several transformed paladins, as well as a cackling woman. I don’t know much about the woman, but it’s interesting, isn’t it? It all reeks of the Church’s involvement.”

[Assistant] “…!” The members on the Church’s side were visibly shocked. But it wasn’t because the first imperial princess had called them out. As far as they were concerned, the restructuring was already under way. Having their wrongdoings pointed out would hardly affect them at this point. But the captured woman, on the other hand, was a different story altogether. If she really was the Saint, then it meant that the Church had had their most revered person stolen away by the enemy.

[User] Her smile deepened triumphantly as she went on.


[User] “If this situation, if the appearance of the two pillars, is the result of you people seeking restructuring…then how exactly do you intend to make reparations?”

[Assistant] “My sister is right. It feels like compensation is in order. You know, as a show of good faith.”

[User] A youthful voice called out in assent. It belonged to a young man with a panther’s head. He was probably the third imperial prince. His radiant sapphire gaze turned on the members of the Church.

[Assistant] “That can wait. We can figure out where the onus for reparations lies after the situation has been settled. Right now, we need to focus on how to stop the underlings from harming our people. The Church has several saints at their disposal. Depending on how they have them act, we ought to consider lessening their punishment.” A stuffy voice piped up from his right.

[User] “Oh man, aren’t we feeling generous to the people who got us into this mess.”

[Assistant] “The pureblooded among my people number few, and one of their crucial sectors has sustained damages. Our primary concern is quickly coming up with a defense strategy for it.”

[User] “…So he’s just hung up on his pureblood nonsense.” The bespectacled lizard-headed demi-human’s words drove Kaito to mutter to himself again. Lute mirrored his exasperation. None of the other demi-human representatives seemed to have complaints, but surely there were other things they should be more concerned with defending. Amid the quarreling, the human king was merely trembling in his chair. Just as Kaito had heard, the man was decidedly young. The king’s face was freckled and stiffened from nerves. His advisers, who all looked to have close ties to the Church, were practically glued to his sides.

[Assistant] “We’re currently conducting an investigation into the abuse of power by some of our members. And it’s impossible to say definitively whether or not the current phenomenon is an aspect of restructuring or not. I believe that a pragmatic strategy would be for us saints to act as a shield and serve as a front line to defend all three races. I would ask that you all please lend us your strength.” La Christoph, who was sitting a little way off to the side, was the next to speak.

[User] “…That’s as far as you guys have gotten, too?” Kaito heaved a heavy sigh. As he’d suspected, the Church hadn’t completely abandoned the possibility that restructuring would occur. But while they were deliberating, people were dying all over the place. The world was coming to an end, filling to the brim with pain and screams. However, it seemed like that fact had yet to sink in with anyone present.

[Assistant] “Lute, you were there when the two pillars arose at the World’s End. What information do you have for us?” Vyade finally called out to Lute.

[User] Lute responded by giving a flustered salute. Her decision had been a good one. Right now, what they needed more than anything was accurate information.


[User] "Allow me to first say this—there is no chance that restructuring will occur." Lute was firm in his statement. The room buzzed with frenzied murmurs. The Church members’ faces were blotted red with rage. But Lute ignored all the criticism being leveled his way. He calmly relayed a description of the events he and the others had witnessed. "First, regarding what Sir Kaito and his group discovered beneath the royal tombs…" One by one, he laid out the insane truths. The hall steadily grew quiet as a different type of tension filled the air. “…Then the Saint transferred her contracts with God and Diablo over to the Torture Princesses. Her objective was…" …to abandon the role she’d been burdened with.

[Assistant] The moment those words left his mouth, the sound of the round table being violently struck echoed through the room. The Church’s people had angrily risen to their feet.

[User] "Hold your tongue! We will not sit here and listen to these vile insults! What merit does the testimony of a man who accompanied the Torture Princess and the Kaiser’s contractor have anyway? !"

[Assistant] "If you can’t show off your power, you’re just weak. If you fight without information, you’re just a fool, and if you whine pointlessly, you’re just incompetent. And hey, if your life has no value, you’re no better than a pig. So which one are you? Incompetent or a pig?" A well-projected voice served to cut off the clergyman’s angry tirade. Kaito’s sounded almost listless.

[User] One of the high priests was about to raise his voice in objection, but at the last minute, he froze. Kaito’s eyes were cold and hard. He gave the man a quiet warning.

[Assistant] "Now, listen until he’s done."

[User] "Errr, well, I have more bad news, unfortunately. The damage from the underlings isn’t the only threat. Within ten days or so, the two pillars will collapse. God and Diablo will both be released, and the world will be destroyed."

[Assistant] "Yes, and that will herald the start of recon-"

[User] "Seven days." Kaito interrupted the priest once again. Every eye in the room turned toward him. Once they had, he nimbly raised a finger and matter-of-factly made his proclamation. "The Diablo pillar will only last seven days. That’s as long as Elisabeth’s mana will take her."

[Assistant] "But, Sir Kaito, Vlad… Sir Vlad said it would last ten days or so."

[User] "Sure, if Elisabeth was at peak form. But not now." Kaito gently shook his head. His expression was calm as he shared a piece of information that only he knew. "Because Diablo has infiltrated her body, she can’t die. But while she still had her freedom, she expelled one of her internal organs. As a result, her body can’t generate new mana anymore."

[Assistant] Confused looks filled the room.


[User] Hina alone squeezed the hem of her maid uniform. Everyone else turned toward Lute, wondering what organ Kaito was talking about.

[Assistant] Kaito gave his chest a quick thump. Then he revealed the bizarre truth. “Right now, Elisabeth’s heart is inside me.”

[User] It took a good ten seconds for Lute to fully comprehend what Kaito had uttered. Lute was struck speechless.

[Assistant] Caring little for whether or not his words caused shock or were even understood, Kaito went on. “And because I inherited her heart, a new connection sprang up between Elisabeth and me. Diablo stole away her consciousness and is using her body to birth underlings—but all pain and injuries they’re causing are being delivered straight to me.”

[User] “…What?” Lute let out a dumbfounded yelp.

[Assistant] Kaito grinned. As he did, crimson blood dripped down from the corner of his lips. “But it’s not like I can just go passing out now. I have it more or less under control, but it hurts like a bitch.”

[User] “I guess forcing me to get used to pain is the one thing I gotta thank my old man for, huh?” A carefree smile spread across Kaito’s face.

[Assistant] Kaito himself shrugged, then gave his chin a light jerk. “So? Carry on. If you don’t, the world’s gonna get destroyed. You do know that, right?”

[User] "T-true, it will… No, it won’t! Our stance remains unchanged. Even if what you say is true, and the Saint did set down her burden, then the new Saint who bears God within her will carry out restructuring all the same! We have faith in that!"


[User] “We have to…we have to believe in that.”

[Assistant] “Very well, then. If humanity wishes to sacrifice themselves for their faith, then far be it from us to stop them.” A husky, feral voice spoke up. The first imperial princess of the beastfolk licked her lips. Sharp claws glittered atop her fingers as she tapped on the round table’s surface. “Your proposal for a unified line of defense among the three races is hereby rejected. And while we’re at it, let’s annul the peace treaty, too. And while we focus our own defenses, we’ll move in on the human territories, too. We have a right to revenge, after all. And the Saint is already in our grasp. This way, we can mount a resistance against the pillars and wipe out humanity, just the way you want it.”

[User] “Sister, you’re making a terrible decision! Declaring war at a time like this? You may excel at battle, sister, and even with the recent loss of your elite troops, your army is no doubt still strong. But do you truly believe that you can accomplish both those things without suffering crippling losses? Your ambitions will leave the forest barren. How can you not see that?”

[Assistant] "Be quiet, Vyade! Who do you think you’re taking that tone with?! We’ve remained silent for too long. Letting this opportunity pass us by would mar our pride as beastfolk!" The first imperial princess’s indignation shut Vyade right up. Her approval among the people served as her sole weapon. The actual authority she wielded was comparatively slim. Now was not the time to descend into bickering.


[User] The demi-human delegation looked at one another, then stood. The bespectacled, aged green lizard spoke solemnly.

[Assistant] “Very well. Humanity did bring this upon us. We will stand with our old friends and form a united front alongside them. If you all wish to resign yourselves to destruction, then your fate is in your own hands. But the disorder within your Church seems to run deep. I doubt you have the power to successfully protect your people. It appears that this is the end for you.” The hostility of the other two races bore down upon the humans. It was true; the Church had been to blame for the current situation. This could all be seen as a natural result of that. However, the humans lacked the resolution to admit fault and try to change the way things were going.

[User] La Christoph didn’t have that authority.

[Assistant] Two of the advisers turned to the king and whispered. “Your Majesty, now is the time to make your decision. Once the restructuring occurs, we will all be saved. But first, we must destroy the pagans. Perhaps we should have done so sooner. We must begin the third king’s holy war anew. You must demonstrate your faith in God, for the sake of the people.”

[User] “Please, Your Majesty, give the order to deploy all the saints.”

[Assistant] “I… I…” The king was clearly baffled.


[User] The decisions he was being asked to make were far beyond what he was mentally equipped to handle. He was young, and death and responsibility clearly scared him. The Church obviously wanted to get things under way before any of the influential aristocrats who’d missed the meeting could get a say.

[Assistant] “All you have to do is nod.” The king’s advisers whispered enticingly.

[User] While all of that was going on, Lute’s gaze turned to a certain someone.

[Assistant] Kaito was calmly watching over the proceedings. His eyes were strangely serene, and they were picking up everything that was happening. Kaito heaved a deep, deep sigh. "La (become)." When he did, over a hundred blades manifested in midair. Azure flower petals and darkness had danced luxuriously through the air, and executioner’s ax-shaped blades had lined up within them.

[User] Everyone present had steel pointed right at their neck. Anyone with any amount of combat experience couldn’t help but immediately realize what was happening. It was a dangerous stunt, one that would normally be carried out with hundreds of soldiers. As he stared in wonderment, a thought passed through Lute’s head. Normally, a coup isn’t something one carries out on their own. That was just common sense. Right now, though, that common sense had been overturned.

[Assistant] “Enough of this nonsense—clearly you guys are all useless.” Kaito Sena slowly rose from his chair. The hem of his black uniform flared out behind him as he began walking. The way his tunic was dyed scarlet on the inside really was reminiscent of the Torture Princess’s dress.

[User] It was at that point that Lute realized something. Almost like proof of his explosive development as a mage, Kaito’s beastly left arm had returned to that of a human.

[Assistant] Kaito casually leaped atop the round table.

[User] Lute elected not to follow him.

[Assistant] A beautiful automaton, on the other hand, unfalteringly took her place by Kaito’s side. “Oh? What’s this? You’ve finally decided to seize your crown, O unworthy master of mine?” Humanlike laughter accompanied the horrible black dog’s appearance.

[User] Seemingly thinking that he might as well, Kaito snapped his fingers. Azure petals and darkness scattered throughout the room.

[Assistant] Vlad Le Fanu’s phantasm made a graceful appearance from within them. “Why, hello, hello. I see that my dear successor has assembled quite the notable audience.” Placing a hand atop his chest, Vlad gave an elegant, courteous bow to the members of the conference.

[User] The three of them now in tow, Kaito stopped at the center of the table. Azure petals and black darkness swirled up once more. A jet-black long sword dropped from within them. The engraving carved upon its beautiful blade flashed. When it did, its meaning was seared into the eyes of all present. All things are pardoned unto me. But I am ruled by none. Then the azure glow abruptly faded.


[User] Torture Princess

[Assistant] Then the boy who had once died meaninglessly in another world made his grand declaration.

[User] “…Just for now, I’m king. So obey me.”

[Assistant] In that moment, as the world crumbled, the Mad King was born.

[User] And as he was, the desperate battle to survive in the world of the two pillars began.


[User] Oscar looks up from the work that had been laid out on his desk. "The Age of Witches, huh? People throw that phrase around a lot, but I’m not so sure about it. It’s scarier than it needs to be.”

[Assistant] "Oscar… You should be a little more wary. What do you think witches even are?” Tinasha retorted coolly. She presented Oscar a cup of tea she’d brewed herself.

[User] He thanked her as he took it. “Why is the current era known as the Age of Witches in the first place? Did you do something?”

[Assistant] “There are five witches. Why are you pinning all the blame on me? You’re wrong, regardless. Although I suppose I can’t say I had nothing to do with it in the beginning,” Tinasha said, waving her hand dismissively. “About three hundred years ago, a country to the northwest called Helginis locked up the Witch Who Cannot Be Summoned. Helginis mages tried to weave a huge destruction spell using her as the catalyst.”

[User] “What? I’ve never heard of that,” Oscar said.

[Assistant] Tinasha made a face, still holding the tea things.


[User] "That’s because everyone involved at the time died, except the witches of course. It’s not something that was spoken of openly. And any sort of large-scale destruction magic, whether it uses humans as catalysts or not, is classified as a forbidden curse. However, the one they attempted back then was on a whole different scale. If they’d managed to pull off the spell, it would’ve no doubt irreparably altered the entire continent. Naturally, with something so dire at stake, the other four witches—myself included—refused to stand by and let the Helginis mages do as they pleased."

[Assistant] "So what happened?"

[User] "We had no choice but to intervene in the situation in Helginis and release the Witch Who Cannot Be Summoned. Once we did, she destroyed the entire country in a single night."

[User] "From then on, the term Age of Witches started cropping up…"

[Assistant] "What a mess…" Oscar remarked. Just listening to it was enough to give him a headache. He rubbed his temples.


[User] Compared with the gruesome era colored by war and betrayal that was the Dark Age, the Age of Witches was largely peaceful, with only a few currents of discord. Perhaps that was the natural result of people cowering in fear of the supremely powerful witches. Oscar eyed Tinasha, a witch capable of taking on an entire army alone.

[Assistant] "Destroyed a country in one night, huh? That’s more than just an old story?"

[User] "The Dark Age was rife with tales like that." Tinasha said with a smile, but her dark eyes revealed none of what she was thinking. She realized Oscar was staring at her and arched one shapely brow. "If you’ve learned your history, then you should behave more responsibly. Keep acting recklessly, and you’ll end up dead someday without understanding why."

[Assistant] "You can talk about my death all you want, but I have your protective barrier on me as long as you’re alive, don’t I? Doesn’t that mean we’ll die at the same time? Shouldn’t we just get married?" Oscar grinned.

[User] "Don’t lump us together! I’m not marrying you!" Tinasha spat.

[Assistant] The barrier she had cast on Oscar was an extraordinary one that could protect him from all magical and physical attacks. While it had a few limitations and blind spots, it afforded every defense that magic could provide. So long as Tinasha was alive, the barrier on Oscar would remain intact, making it practically a cheat. The witch rolled her eyes at the prince. "You need to learn your place. Here I am trying to break your curse, but it’ll all be pointless if you get yourself killed doing something else."

[User] As heir to his country, Oscar had a heavy burden on his shoulders. When he was but a child, he’d been cursed to be the end of his line by the Witch of Silence. The wicked spell cloaked any unborn child of his blood in such a powerful protective charm that no mother’s body could bear it.


[User] Overcoming such a mighty enchantment was quite the high hurdle, but Oscar had to if his lineage was to survive. In pursuit of a way to do so, Oscar had completed the trials set by another witch so that she would break the curse for him. He’d braved the tower where it was said a witch granted a wish to all who climbed to the top, and he’d come back with Tinasha as his protector. Oscar looked up at said mouthy protector. "Even if you don’t break the curse, you’re not affected by the Witch of Silence’s power, right? Just marry me and that’ll solve everything. When should we hold the wedding?"

[Assistant] "We have a contract for one year! You don’t have the right to extend it! And I’m almost done analyzing the curse!" Tinasha retorted.

[User] "Weren’t you the one who went on and on about how difficult it’ll be to undo the spell? You’re so studious…," Oscar commented.

[Assistant] "Of course I am. There’s no one else around who can do it. If you understood that, you’d know not to act so rashly. Now behave or I’ll curse you to never leave your desk."

[User] "It’d be too funny if I was cursed by two separate witches," Oscar remarked before giving up and returning his attention to the stack of documents before him. Talking to Tinasha was entertaining, but he’d incur her resentment if he took it too far. Contrary to the typical idea of what a witch was, Tinasha was so overly serious that it was adorable. It was no doubt due to that demeanor of hers that she was helping to break his curse, even though that wasn’t specified in their contract. Tinasha had lived for so many years that she viewed solitude as natural, however, and didn’t form attachments to people. She was both incredibly kind and incredibly heartless. At times, a terrible loneliness filled her eyes…and it made Oscar wish that she’d just stay with him forever. He wanted no more shadows to cast a pall over her smiles. Over the past half a year, he had completely fallen for her. "There’s no need to push yourself to finish the analysis so fast. After coming down from your tower for the first time in so long, you should enjoy things for a time," Oscar urged. He wanted Tinasha to think of living peacefully with humans as something normal for her, and he wished she’d just while her days away like ordinary people did.

[Assistant] After tidying up the tea things, Tinasha turned back to him. "I want to do what I can while I can," she stated, as if anticipating the end of the contract. She smiled, a faraway look in her eyes.


[User] They were all generally excellent mages, even in comparison to mages from other countries, and reliably took care of most issues even if it required some time. There were the occasional requests that were beyond their capabilities, however. Ever since Tinasha had arrived at the castle, she’d been the one who handled such cases.

[Assistant] "So we’ve been asked to give our expert opinion on this magic implement but can’t identify exactly what it is…" Kav explains as he handed a dagger to Tinasha. At present, there was no one else in the castle’s laboratory. A great number of reagents Kav was using for his own research had been left out on the lab table. Looking stumped, he awaited the witch’s assessment.

[User] Tinasha pulls it out and frowned, the old-looking dagger was encased in a copper sheath. "You were told this is a magic implement?"

[Assistant] "Yes. Apparently, it was purchased as an antique at a secondhand shop in town, but it moves on its own and gets hot. That’s why we were asked to look into whether it’s ensorcelled… But while I do sense some sort of power from it, there’s no spell laid into the thing and it bears no carved sigils, either. I’m not sure what to make of it."

[User] Tinasha turned the blade over, and sure enough, the dagger’s surface was bereft of etchings.

[Assistant] Tinasha’s face was pinched as she said, "This isn’t a magic implement. It’s the result of a forbidden curse."

[User] "What? A forbidden curse? Wh-what part of it is?" Kav asks nervously.

[Assistant] "The effect itself isn’t particularly potent, but its origin is problematic. A human soul is sealed inside."

[User] "What? !"

[Assistant] "Souls are masses of power that naturally dissolve if they lose their frames—the body. This soul has been affixed to the dagger to prevent it from dispersing. But it wasn’t done by a very good mage. And just because a soul is sealed inside doesn’t mean the weapon is imbued with some sort of power. Most likely the soul will escape in time."

[User] "If that’s true, then that means this is…" Kav trailed off as he accepted the dagger back from the witch. Its time of creation was now clear.

[Assistant] "Not much time has passed since this object was made. We should find and catch whoever did this. Where is that secondhand shop?" she asked, her dark eyes flashing.


[User] Her gaze was sharp and shone with a cold fury.

[Assistant] Kav gulped.

[User] "Absolutely not. I’m not taking you.” Tinasha frowned as she suddenly addressed someone standing behind Kav in the laboratory doorway.

[Assistant] “No, I’m definitely going. I can’t just leave this alone after hearing all that." Came a deep, most definitely not childish voice.

[User] Kav whirled around and bowed to the man, who was standing in the doorway with an irritated look on his face.

[Assistant] When Tinasha caught sight of that expression, she merely threw her hands up in exasperation.


[User] Kav led Tinasha and Oscar to a secondhand shop situated in a back alley of the town that encircled the castle.

[Assistant] Oscar gawked with great interest at nearly everything around him.

[User] Tinasha leaned against the wall with her arms crossed soon after entering.

[Assistant] “Excuse me. We’ve come from the castle. We’re looking for the person who sold this.” Seeing that the other two were loath to take the initiative, Kav had no choice but to address the shop owner.

[User] “Oh, that? Someone traded that to pay off their loans. I’ve known the guy for about a decade, but it sounds like he’s gotten himself deep in debt this year. He borrowed money from a bunch of places and brought me this dagger to get the funds to pay it off. This isn’t anything special, but I did him a favor since I’ve known him so long.” The owner was a man in the prime of life. He took one look at the questionable dagger’s scabbard and answered right away.

[Assistant] “What kind of man was this?” Oscar asked, a bronze key in hand.

[User] “Just a regular guy. He’s got a wife and two little girls. Several times a year, he goes around the city selling wares. Oh, I recently found out he had a younger brother, though.” The shop owner glanced over at him but thankfully didn’t seem to suspect he was truly the crown prince.

[Assistant] “A brother?”

[User] “Indeed. His brother was the one who came in to sell the daggers. Said he was holding on to the little things and an IOU.”

[Assistant] Tinasha, leaning against the wall, suddenly straightened up. She walked over to a box of items and pulled out two other daggers from it.

[User] The owner’s eyes widened. "You’ve got a good eye, ma’am. He brought in those two along with a third—the one you’ve got. Apparently, it should’ve been a set of four, but…”

[Assistant] “…A twenty-five-year-old woman.”

[User] “What?”

[Assistant] After unsheathing one of the short blades, Tinasha said something as though observing what others could not.

[User] The owner and Kav gaped at her.


[User] Pulling the other dagger from its sleeve, she said, “A thirty-one-year-old man.”

[Assistant] “Miss Tinasha, what are you…?” Kav didn’t understand, but the shop owner seemed to have realized something.

[User] Stunned, he asked, “How do you know the ages of my friend and his wife? Can you tell the daggers’ former owners just from looking at them?”

[Assistant] “What? Former owner…?” Kav muttered as he quickly went pale. What did her words indicate?

[User] Tinasha pointed to it with one pale finger. “A seven-year-old girl.”

[Assistant] Realizing that had to be one of the couple’s daughters, Kav fought down a scream with everything he had.


[Assistant] Tinasha tucked her long black hair behind one ear. “Experiments with forbidden curses like this one were quite common during the Dark Age. During that time, lives were treated with even less care than they are now. Unlike magical ability, which is determined at birth, all souls have a kind of power to them. It’s entirely natural that some stupid people started to think it could be harnessed and utilized.”

[User] “Madness…,” Oscar said. “This sort of thing happened a lot back then. The only thing that came from those horrible experiments was the conclusion that souls couldn’t really be used for anything. History has proven time and again that those who use forbidden curses will eventually fall prey to one themselves. There was nothing to gain by forcing souls into the daggers. Any amount of research would’ve made that apparent… That this man would still do something so depraved suggests he is not of sound mind.”

[Assistant] “Someone sane wouldn’t have sacrificed people to begin with,” said Oscar, patting Tinasha on the head.


[User] As Oscar attempted to soothe the displeased witch at his side, he turned another corner. No sooner had he done so than he came upon the man’s home. It was a rather washed-out little place crammed tightly between its neighbors. Oscar stared at the structure. "Those daggers were brought to the antique shop three days ago, right? Won’t that mean there’s no one here?"

[Assistant] "Even if their souls were sealed away, their bodies should’ve remained."

[User] "I was trying not to put it so bluntly…" Oscar muttered.

[Assistant] "There’s no need for you to worry about upsetting me. I lived through the Dark Age, after all."

[User] Judging from the exterior, the man’s house didn’t look lived in at all. They could see a simple kitchen through the glassless windows. Empty dishes sat atop a wooden table. "Let’s start by taking a look around inside." Oscar decided.


[Assistant] Just as he was about to go in, a man carrying a child popped out from the yard of a house two doors down. He must have been watching. "Hey, the people in that house moved out three days ago."

[User] "Oh yeah? Did you see if they had any kids with them?" Oscar asked. He didn’t bother speaking formally to a stranger.

[Assistant] Tinasha frowned slightly.

[User] The man nodded, rocking the sleeping child against his shoulder. "They did. Two of them, in fact. The younger one’s close with my son, so he wanted to know where they were going so early in the morning." The young man patted his child’s back.

[Assistant] Oscar and Tinasha exchanged glances. "That must mean something happened after they left the house."

[User] "In that case, we need to gather more eyewitness reports…" Tinasha answered, snapping her fingers and pointing inside the house. "Oscar, have a look around inside the place."

[Assistant] "What about you?"

[User] "I’ll wait out here. When we get yelled at for this later, someone will have to provide an excuse for your recklessness."

[Assistant] "That’s true. Lazar’s probably dying of a stomachache right about now." Oscar remarked.

[User] "And yet you snuck out anyway. Have you no compassion?" Tinasha chided.

[Assistant] "Well, I’m off, then. Don’t follow any strangers." Oscar warned his beautiful protector.

[User] "If you really think I’d do that, then finish up your tasks quickly…" Tinasha replied, waving him off tiredly.

[Assistant] The prince turned toward the seemingly abandoned house.


[User] The man with the child appeared shocked to know that Oscar was about to intrude on someone else’s home. He beat a hasty withdrawal indoors, clearly thinking this wasn’t something he ought to get involved in.

[Assistant] "Ayla? Did you cut your hair? Who’s that?" The little girl poked her face out from the house across the way, looking at the child in the man’s arms and called in an innocent voice.

[User] Oscar rolled to the side and grabbed the child before the man could escape.

[Assistant] Tinasha seized the man by his neck with her ivory fingers and looked up at him with dull, coal-black eyes, her nails very nearly cut into the man’s flesh. "It was you."

[User] "Don’t kill him, Tinasha," Oscar demanded, the child in his arms limiting his movements.

[Assistant] "What were you doing with those daggers? Were you experimenting with different spells depending on the soul?"

[User] "N-no…"

[Assistant] "Then were you practicing? The daughter’s soul stuck to the weapon better than the mother’s and the mother’s more than the father’s. Did you think the next one would go even better?"

[User] “…Ngh, ah…” The man’s breathing grew faint, and he began thrashing around like a drowning man.

[Assistant] The witch had silently lifted him off the ground, her jet-black hair swaying all around her. The primal urge to kill was pouring off her in waves, dominating the surrounding atmosphere.

[User] "Are you listening, Tinasha? Don’t kill him yet. I want to hear what he has to say."

[Assistant] "There’s no point in letting him live. This man has magic."

[User] "Did you decide to remain outside when you realized that?"

[Assistant] Tinasha saw that the man was about to pass out and released her grip.

[User] "I—I was trying to make a magic sword…for the future…" He fell to the ground, coughing violently as he gasped for air in a hoarse voice.

[Assistant] "Save the cryptic remarks."


[User] “What do you think you are, some lunatic from the Dark Age?” Tinasha’s mocking retort seemed casual enough, but her eyes betrayed something darker than the desire to kill. Peering into them was to stare into an abyss that ran deeper than Tinasha herself.

[Assistant] Sensing a moment of opportunity, Oscar said, “Tinasha, trade places with me. I don’t know how to hold a kid.”

[User] “You seem to be managing. Just keep doing what you’re doing.”

[Assistant] “Trade with me. I’ll take over for you,” insisted the prince, patting the witch’s head with his free hand. The warmth from his hand slowly spread through Tinasha, and she reluctantly received the young girl from him. She cradled the child against her shoulder. As she held the sleeping kid, the witch suddenly appeared very kind, not unlike a regular person.


[User] Resolving the case turned out to be an exercise in frustration. Oscar frowned as he listened to a report of the culprit’s testimony. “A call for mages? Cuscull… Isn’t that the same new country that sent an envoy to invite Tinasha?”

[Assistant] “It is. It doesn’t look like they’re doing it openly, but they’ve proclaimed themselves open to all capable mages. This man resorted to murder trying to heed that call,” Kav explained, reading out the report and glancing to one side. His gaze fell to the crown prince’s protector. She was sitting on a couch with her legs crossed. Despite having been furious and nearly killing the man, Tinasha now seemed a portrait of placid calm—on the surface anyway.

[User] Crossing her arms, she took over the report. “Though the invitation is for ‘capable mages,’ that can mean a great many things. It looks like Cuscull is trying to collect those who excel at warfare. I don’t know what they’re planning, but it doesn’t bode well that they’re inciting people to commit terrible acts.”

[Assistant] “A magic sword, huh? Mass production of such a weapon would not be good for us,” Oscar commented.

[User] “Normal mages cannot produce magic swords. Almost all of them are fakes, with the exception of Akashia. A considerable amount of magic and a very complicated spell are both needed to fix a soul to an object. That’s why most cases have historically come about by accident,” Tinasha detailed.

[Assistant] “You’re saying it’s difficult to intentionally re-create such a process. Now that the challenge is out there, though, it’s likely to cause further trouble.”

[User] “Idiots are out there doing things like this because they don’t know any better. Not knowing what they’re getting themselves into convinces them it’s worth pursuing… This is why, with time, people will repeat the same cycle of despair,” Tinasha snapped back coldly. A sorrowful shadow fell over her dark eyes. Her words spoke to countless instances of lost hope witnessed over the many years of her life.


[User] Her gaze grew distant, as if she were reliving far-off memories. When she noticed Oscar and Kav’s eyes on her, she rose to her feet. Clapping her hands to change the conversation, Tinasha said, “In any case, keep an eye out for any strange magical incidents and be sure to tell me about them. I’ll deal with any and all occurrences as best I can.”

[Assistant] “Yep. Kav, don’t go to her directly. Report to me first.” Oscar ordered.

[User] “Why do you treat me like some bomb that could go off at any minute? !” Tinasha cried.

[Assistant] “Well, at least you’re aware of how dangerous you are.” Oscar quipped.

[User] “You’re one to talk!” the witch protested, floating along the ceiling.


[User] “Aren’t they human, too?”

[Assistant] “They look human, but they’re filthy creatures who defy the gods.”

[User] Her hands full of gathered berries, she was running off to the mountain cabin yet again.

[Assistant] Just before the little building came into view, Luly saw the magician himself barreling toward her on the path.

[User] As soon as he caught sight of her, he ran over and scooped the young girl up in his arms. "Thank goodness. I was so worried. I didn’t think I’d make it!”

[Assistant] “What’s wrong? Make what?”

[User] The magician merely offered the girl a weak smile. “It’s nothing. Come, let’s get you inside.”

[Assistant] “But I have to go right back today. It’s my mom’s birthday.”

[User] “No! You can’t go back to the village!” he cried.

[Assistant] “…Why?”

[User] The magician didn’t answer. “Hide out here for a while, then flee to another country. Run as far away as you can… All the way to Farsas if need be.”

[Assistant] “What…? I can’t do that. I have my mom and my dad.”

[User] Shaking off the magician’s grip on her, she ran back the way she had come.

[Assistant] “No, Luly! You can’t go back there!” he shouted, scrambling after her.

[User] Luly ran and ran, until she arrived at a spot that overlooked the village below… …and saw her hometown engulfed in flames.


[Assistant] "That really takes me back.” The young man watched the white smoke rise from verdant hills and drift beyond the distant forest.

[User] He watched the smoke dissolve into the sky. “I was born in the Dark Age, you see. Only once did my father ever take me outside the country.


[User] "That’s where I saw people and towns on fire, just like this. It really was a terrible era.” Lanak says with indifference, his voice bereft of emotion. Even the words a terrible era were as plain as ordinary as if he’d been describing what he had for dinner last night. The mages accompanying him, however, all looked upon their lord with eyes full of admiration.

[Assistant] "Lord Lanak, you should return to the castle."

[User] “Ah, I suppose it’s about that time. Yes, I still have many things to do." Lanak replies, tearing his eyes from the billowing smoke and turning his gaze to the contingent of mages before him. As calm as one could ever be, he continued,

[Assistant] “Since we’ve gone through the trouble of setting fire to the village, we’ll need to send a proper declaration of war. Not doing so would be an insult to those who lost their lives today.” There was no sarcasm in his words acknowledging the people he’d killed himself. He appeared to feel true pity for the dead but quickly broke into a bright smile.

[User] “This is the dawn of a new era for this land. To that end, we’ve got to reset everything for a fresh start. First up is the Four Great Nations, I believe? If they’re destroyed, all the others will fall obediently into line from there.” Lanak held out his abnormally pale hands. A transportation array appeared, though he had said no incantation. With a final smile, he vanished.


[Assistant] Tinasha stands atop the castle walls, holding out a hand to her familiar who’d come from the direction of the approaching gloom. The gray, cat-shaped familiar leaped onto her shoulder and rubbed its head against her cheek.

[User] “I see. So it’s true… Why now, after four hundred years…?” Tinasha murmured, distress crossing her lovely face as she received her familiar’s report. Truthfully, she wanted to leave and make for Cuscull immediately. The very thing that had driven her to become a witch had at last come to pass. It was nearly within Tinasha’s grasp, and she wanted to reach out and put an end to everything as soon as possible. It clawed at her so ceaselessly that Tinasha felt liable to go mad. Based on what she’d learned, however, things were still too complicated and dangerous for her to act on emotion now.


[User] "What should I do…?" She wondered aloud, putting a hand to her chin and falling into thought. The cat on her shoulder perked its ears up.

[Assistant] “…What is that? Your pet?” The prince was approaching along a castle rampart walkway.

[User] "Oscar…"

[Assistant] He gingerly picked up the cat, scratching under its chin as he looked at Tinasha.

[User] "Tinasha? What is it?" Oscar frowned, the cat now resting on top of his head. Concerned, the prince’s blue eyes were trained on the witch.

[Assistant] She held her breath for a moment as an impulse to tell him everything swept over her..."…It’s nothing. And that isn’t a real cat; it’s my familiar.”

[User] “It is? Wow, it feels exactly like a real one."

[Assistant] “It’s made with magic, just like Litola. And don’t put the cat on your head; you might startle someone. You’re supposed to be a prince.” She scolded, snapping her fingers lightly.

[User] "You go rest now. Thanks for all your hard work.” She whispered in its ear.

[Assistant] He boggled at the sudden turn of events. “Was that really okay? Did it just cease to exist?”

[User] “Yes, it did, but it’s all right. It’s done its duty for me many times over by now."


[User] The agreement said nothing of the reverse. Tinasha closed her eyes to conceal the shadowy look in them. She took a few seconds to get her emotions in order. Once the worst of her tumultuous feelings had passed, she put a pretty smile back on her face. “Besides, I’m busy right now cracking your curse.” She said.

[Assistant] Her analysis of the curse was nearing a conclusion. After that, all she had to do was compose a spell to break the curse. It was likely to be extremely complex, so she’d sent away for crystals to make magic implements infused with spells ahead of time.

[User] Upon reflection, Tinasha realized she’d kept Oscar waiting quite a while, but at last the goal was in sight. She was certain she’d end his curse and positive he’d be pleased. Tinasha grinned up at Oscar, and he smiled back.

[Assistant] “About that, don’t forget you also have the option of marrying me. That’s what I’d personally recommend.”

[User] “You’re about the only one who would.” Tinasha snorted. “Isn’t my recommendation all that matters? What other opinion do you need?”

[Assistant] “Mine for one! Listen to what I want here!”

[User] Tinasha cried. The two had a way of getting off track and going on and on like this forever. Tinasha started to leave him behind, but he grabbed her hand and turned her back around. She could feel in his grip his strong desire not to let her get away, and she looked back at him. “…What is it? Don’t even think about sneaking out like you did before. You’ve got too much to do.”

[Assistant] “No, not that. The dress I ordered for you is ready for a first fitting, so I came to find you.”

[User] “What…?” The dress Oscar was referring to was one he’d ordered on his own when a cloth merchant had visited the castle three months ago. The ones Tinasha ordered herself had been of a simple design, so they’d been completed much earlier. The fact that Oscar’s had taken so long gave Tinasha an uneasy sense of foreboding. “I—I suppose refusing won’t do me any good.”

[Assistant] “You’ve got that right. Would you rather walk there on your own or be dragged? Up to you,” Oscar offered.

[User] “I’ll go…” The longer Tinasha lived in the castle, the more things she had to do seemed to naturally accumulate. Hanging her head in resignation, Tinasha let Oscar lead her along by the hand.


[Assistant] “It’s sooooo gorgeous, Miss Tinasha!” Sylvia cried out, though it sounded more like a shriek of glee. She was the first person to see Tinasha come out wearing the dress.

[User] Oscar looked Tinasha over from head to toe. Rather candidly, he complimented her. “Looks pretty damn good.”

[Assistant] “Thank you…,” Tinasha said. The dress was finely crafted of smooth black silk woven with abundant silver threads. It was open at her arms and back, hugging her curves close from the high collar to down below her waist.


[User] Sylvia gazed at the witch, spellbound. "Miss Tinasha, let me do your hair and makeup on the big day."

[Assistant] "The big day? What big day?"

[User] "It’s almost His Majesty the King’s birthday celebration, of course." Sylvia reminded her.

[Assistant] "I know that’s coming up, but why should I go? Isn’t it just a ball being held for diplomatic purposes?"


[User] Once talk turned to the ball, an evil smile spread over his face. "You’re the one who’s gotta go. Jump right into the lion’s den and get some experience socializing with humans."

[Assistant] "Why?!" Tinasha asked, indignant.

[User] Rather timidly, the dressmaker spoke up for the first time, asking, "Um…how is the fit?"

[Assistant] Instead of Tinasha answering, Oscar piped up happily from behind her. "It’s a little loose in the waist. Did you lose weight? You should make sure you get proper sleep."

[User] "I am. When I feel like it." Tinasha informed him. "And could you make a hair ornament in the same shape as the flowers on the dress but a little bigger?"

[Assistant] "Yes, Your Highness." The dressmaker answered, quickly marking the waist measurements on the fabric and retiring from the room.

[User] Oscar dropped a fond kiss on Tinasha’s shoulder.

[Assistant] Oscar noticed her expression and lifted his head with a look of displeasure. "You’re really not affected the littlest bit."

[User] "I can’t react when you touch me so brazenly."

[Assistant] "Is that the problem?" Oscar asked.

[User] "Is that not what it is?" Tinasha shot back, failing to understand and staring at him with some confusion.

[Assistant] The prince rolled his eyes. "You don’t see me as a man at all, do you?"

[User] "Of course I don’t. Though it’s more like I don’t see anyone in such a way." Tinasha clarified.

[Assistant] Silently, Oscar balled his hands into fists and ground them against the sides of the witch’s head.

[User] "Ow, ow, ow! What do you think you’re doing? Honestly now!" Tinasha cried.

[Assistant] "Sorry, I just got annoyed." Oscar explained.

[User] Tinasha glared at the man while rubbing her temples.

[Assistant] Once more, he inquired of his romantically apathetic protector, "Why are you like this? Is it because purity is so important to spirit sorcerers?"

[User] "I think that’s part of it, but I also don’t want to get too close to humans. Lucrezia is much calmer nowadays, but in the past, she used to take revenge for getting dumped by magically moving all the water in a village’s lake to a different location."


[User] Observing things like that always made me feel reluctant to get involved with anyone… Oh, and I put the water back, of course.” Sylvia was frozen stiff, and Oscar had fallen silent, too. Getting involved with a witch certainly did risk angry outbursts on an entirely different scale. Suddenly, the most powerful witch’s aversion to love affairs seemed a very wise decision indeed. Even then, one couldn’t deny that Tinasha was exceedingly awkward with humans. She appeared aloof as long as she kept people at a certain distance, but once anyone got to know her, they quickly realized how unaccustomed she was with socializing. That was likely why Tinasha was so apathetic, even to herself.

[Assistant] Shaking his head, Oscar patted Tinasha’s hair.

[User] She looked up at him, perplexed.

[Assistant] “Well, let’s put a pin in that. I’m an exception, so think of me as something different.”

[User] “Really?” Tinasha asked.

[Assistant] “Really. We’ve got half a year left, so I’ll wait until then.”

[User] “Hold on. I don’t think this is something that just needs a little more time…,” Tinasha protested frankly

[Assistant] Oscar paid the remark no mind and merely grinned. The hand on her head slid down to caress her cheek. “I’m pretty confident that you’ll change your mind. I suit you.”

[User] “…I really don’t understand,” Tinasha said, shaking her head. Her dark eyes seemed to search the air for something invisible. “So shall it be defined by me.” At those words, crystal balls no larger than one’s fingernail began to float in the air. A dozen spheres glided slowly as if guided on wires. Each lazily came to rest in place on the red lines that delineated the spell. Tinasha made sure they were all in their proper spots before beginning her incantation. “I pray that these words will turn to poison. Let them sow seeds of thorns.” Her voice sang out the words. As the infinitely complex spell took shape, her mind wandered. If love could kill someone, then was that feeling in and of itself a contradiction? Whether a person killed out of love or out of hate, it brought on death all the same. Why then did humans treat them as totally different things? Only the one who killed could know the truth of their motive, and even they couldn’t be absolutely sure. Sweat beaded on her ivory forehead. Cautious and precise, Tinasha wove together her power and her intention. “Fate goes round in a loop, impossible to escape.” Each line made the air vibrate, and the crystal balls rotated accordingly. “No one shall touch it nor change it. Let my words turn to poison.”


[User] “Blessings born of hatred, love born of a curse…” Partway through a lengthy incantation, Tinasha let out a little sigh. She tipped her head up to stare at the dark ceiling…then closed her eyes.

[Assistant] Honing her thoughts down to a single thread, Tinasha launched back into chanting the spell.

[User] Oscar felt like he’d been dreaming.