Chapter 4

Van and the others climbed the path that stretched far up toward the sky. There was no sign of the enemy chasing them, but perhaps because it would be inconvenient if others advanced along the Path of the Firmament, the enemy did not loosen its attacks.

“As expected, it is just as Zeke suspected.”

Baccus, the supreme commander of the kingdom army, muttered while looking over the battlefield. The enemy had certainly been trying to block Van and the others’ path. Judging from the enemy forces that had been deployed, there was no mistaking that. …There was no mistaking it, but they had not been serious either.

“If their intent was to kill, there were other ways to do it.”

Their goal was not murder, nor was it that they truly did not want them to advance along the path. They likely only wanted to interfere. To wear them down, even a little. Because the enemy’s objective was to open the Gate to the Otherworld, and to do that, they needed the final key. It was clear that their aim was to capture one of Van, Luke, or Ciel.

“They understand that, and both sides ride on each other’s intentions. …However…”

Baccus had a question. He could still understand the enemy’s thinking, but he did not understand why Van and the others were the mobile strike force.

He recognized that they were capable, with Glanz at the head, but was sending the three key inheritors into the enemy headquarters truly optimal? If an inheritor fell into the enemy’s hands, the gate would be opened. Even after taking that risk into account, he was left wondering whether this selection was necessary.

“Can the inheritors kill Elzen-boy…?”

The enemy could create spare keys. Despite that, judging from the fact that the battle was still continuing even now, the third one had not yet been prepared. If so, from the world’s perspective, keeping Van and the others away from the battlefield would be the best option.

The story was that Van and the other two, who possessed the spirits’ protections, could oppose Elzen. This personnel selection was logical. —But something felt wrong.

(I know Zeke has an information network different from ours, but…)

At the very rear of the battlefield was a safe area, guarded by the Royal Guard Corps, which consisted of many skilled fighters. There, King Alderic watched the battle situation. The very fact that a king was on the battlefield was abnormal. …And that Alderic had designated these six, Van and the others, as the mobile strike force this time. —Perhaps the fact that Baccus sensed something was merely the harmful result of too many long years spent going too far.

(Diabalet and Lagias. There may still be some unrevealed secret.)

Zeke ran freely across the battlefield in all directions. It looked as though he was annihilating the enemies that appeared again and again, but from Baccus’s perspective, it also felt as if the monsters and shadows had been placed deliberately in positions Zeke would react to. In order to drain Zeke’s stamina and keep him on this battlefield.

(…It is fine for now. I must think only of winning.)

Climbing the Path of the Firmament felt strange, as though they themselves were flying through the sky. The earth that had been close slowly grew farther away, and people became nothing more than dots. Then, as they advanced even farther, they could no longer catch sight of the ground, and a scene like another world entered their view. It could be called a space where stars fell, and a world separated from the earth spread out before them.

Each of them had various impressions, but none spoke. In order to answer the feelings of the companions who had sent them off. In order to focus on the battle that would surely await them after this.

After they advanced for a while, an open space appeared. There, one tall figure stood alone.

“Dex… was it?”

“Well, you know me. Though I doubt you know much about me at all.”

The six of them, Van and the others, faced Dex. No other figures could be seen.

“I thought that Lagias bastard would come too. Did he not make it in time for the opening?”

“…Zeke is still fighting now. For our sake.”

“Figures. Because of you inheritors and Diabalet’s circumstances, right?”

Perhaps intending to provoke them, Dex hinted at the relationship between Diabalet, Lagias, and the inheritors.

“Don’t get so angry, Guide. Lagias is a victim, after all.”

“Could you not speak about him when you have barely had anything to do with Zeke?”

“No, that’s not exactly true. For some reason, he ended up being my opponent a lot…”

Dex looked into the distance with a bitter expression.

According to Zeke, he had crushed him twice or so. What left an impression was that he had muttered without much interest that he did not remember anything else.

“Dex. Has your objective not changed?”

“It hasn’t. We’ll capture you key inheritors and open the gate.”

“Is that something you must accomplish even if it means taking the lives of so many people?”

“It is. That’s why I killed them. Plenty of them.”

Luke asked with a resolute attitude, while Ciel asked sadly. But Dex showed no sign of guilt or remorse. He declared that they had been necessary sacrifices.

“You already know, don’t you? The beginning of this world.”

“Diabalet made a wish to the spirit of prayer. I have heard that was the beginning of this world.”

“—That face says you know more than that, Sage.”

The true truth known to the six of them, Van and the others. According to Alderic, no one else knew it, but…

“You see, I keep seeing the same dream over and over.”

“…A dream?”

“Yeah, a dream. A dream where the same people die for the same reasons again and again—does that ring any bells?”

A repeating world. Put another way, a world where the same lives and deaths continued again and again. Dex’s words closely resembled what Alderic had told them.

“Judging from that reaction… so that’s how it is after all.”

Dex sighed as though he had confirmed something and then felt disappointed by it.

“It’s not like I know anything. I haven’t told them either. …It’s just a feeling, somehow.”

“Déjà vu, huh… I have some memories of that too. We do.”

“It’s nothing that soft. I’m shown the sight of my family and comrades dying over and over. —And they always die for the same reason.”

Dex spoke as though remembering something while looking at the stars. His eyes were filled with sorrow and hatred.

“To be honest, I don’t care about the reason or anything like that. —All I know is that this world has been twisted by Diabalet.”

“…Is that your reason for fighting?”

“That’s right, ex-knight brat.”

He pseudo-experienced events that would likely occur in the future as dreams. All of those dreams were only unfortunate things, a future that would inevitably arrive.

“That’s probably got nothing to do with you inheritors and excellent people. Stones on the roadside like us can only be flicked away.”

“If you knew the future, were there not things you could have changed?”

“…Changed? —Don’t say whatever you like, concubine’s brat.”

Killing intent and pressure emanated from Dex. The air distorted with a crackling sensation.

“I tried to change it again and again! But I couldn’t. No matter how hard I tried!”

Even when he told the people in question about what he saw in his dreams, they never accepted it. Even when Dex himself tried to prevent it, the ending that came was always the same. —What they all had in common was that only Dex’s family and comrades died.

“Do you think a world this insane has any value? Do you think a world where only certain people conveniently survive is right?! It’s a cruel story, isn’t it?!”

Considering Dex’s circumstances, there was no way they could reject his words outright. Misfortune that came. A fixed ending. It made them think of one of Van and the others’ companions, who had been bound by a curse called a covenant.

“Dex. I don’t think what you’re saying is wrong. …That’s exactly why there should be something we can cooperate on.”

“Pretty words, Elzen’s son. …We’ve already come too far to be compatible. Then we have no choice but to fight, do we?”

A formula surfaced on Dex’s body. The spirit factor gave off a unique atmosphere.

“Anything would have been fine. Elzen will destroy this world. That’s enough for me.”

“I’m sorry, but we cannot allow that.”

Dex’s formula repeated an eerie blinking. Its appearance differed from those of Feluart and Pariaach, whom Van and the others had fought in the past.

“I know. You people don’t know my power. —That’s why you’re scared, right? Well, that’s only natural. Lagias was always the one who dealt with me, after all.”

Van and the others understood the capabilities of those who possessed spirit factors. They were also fully aware that they were not opponents who could be fought normally. If they were to take the safe route, the standard tactic would be for all of them to face him together.

“Everyone, please leave this place to me.”

“Glanz-san…”

Glanz stepped forward as if to face Dex. His jade-green robe fluttered.

“It may be best for all of us to handle this together. …However, we do not have infinite time.”

“You understand pretty well, old man. That’s right. We don’t have any reason to insist on the real key either. If you people dawdle, we’ll prepare a spare and finish it. If we capture an inheritor, we’ll use them as the final key. …The conditions that favor us are already in place.”

It was not only Dex’s words that spoke of advantage and disadvantage. Even at this very moment, the kingdom army was fighting. The more time passed, the more disadvantageous it would become for Van and the others.

“Please go on ahead. I will definitely catch up.”

“I won’t stop them. Either way is fine with us.”

Dex moved aside, apparently having no intention of stopping the five aside from Glanz. From their perspective, they had likely judged that holding the Sage here would work to their benefit.

“Understood. We’ll leave this place to Glanz-san.”

“…Make sure you catch up.”

“Please leave everyone’s recovery to me.”

“If worst comes to worst, I’ll come get you.”

“We’ll be waiting ahead.”

Leaving Glanz behind, Van and the others ran past Dex. The two who remained faced each other.

“Let me introduce myself again. This will probably be the last time, but… I’m Dex.”

“Glanz Folt. A mage.”

The mana of both swelled. Dex, strengthened by the power of the spirit, and Glanz, who possessed supernatural power gained through many years of training. Both were capable fighters, and both were strong.

“You’ve lived a long life, haven’t you? Unlike my family and friends. Then that’s enough, isn’t it? Die here.”

“I cannot do that. I must watch over the growth of the young ones.”

The curtain rose on the first battle over the key.

Van and the others entrusted their backs to Glanz and advanced ahead. They ran across the starry sky that gave the feeling it would continue infinitely. It felt as though they had advanced quite far, but there was no sign of enemies attacking.

“Just as we initially assumed. It seems the enemy also plans to intercept us with a small number of people.”

“This is a space where mana is constantly disturbed. Search magic does not function well either, so perhaps that was convenient for them instead.”

Glanz had been the eldest among Van and the others. From his long years of experience and wisdom, he had supported Van and the others and pulled them forward, serving as a mental pillar.

“…Van, are you worried?”

“No, I’m fine. Let’s leave Dex to Glanz-san.”

“He’ll catch up right away. If it’s Glanz-san.”

The noble mage called the Sage had personally taken the initiative to stay behind.

There was no way he had done so without a reason. Glanz, who always looked ahead, would not do anything meaningless. —In other words, it was an enemy that Glanz had to face. And after this, battles like that would probably occur again.

“? Can you hear something?”

“…Buzzing?”

“Everyone, stay alert.”

A small sound echoed in the soundless space. An unpleasant noise, as if something were vibrating, reached their ears.

“This is… the sound of wings.”

“I don’t sense any presence.”

Van and the others had no idea what it was… but only one person, Luke, remembered. A pain he would never forget for the rest of his life. Anger, sorrow, and helplessness were called back within him.

A sudden gust of wind and clear killing intent attacked. —Its target was Ciel. Something sharp approached the one who had inherited silver.

—Clang.

A high-pitched sound echoed, and the vibration resounded through the surroundings. Luke had stepped between Ciel and whatever it was, blocking the attack. He had caught a giant needle with the flat of his sword.

“—Rovinz Kurtle.”

“…”

There were no words. The black shadow flapped its wings and flew up into the sky.

“…A shadow of a bee-human?”

“Luke-san. Thank you very much. You saved me.”

Ciel deployed sacred-art buffs. Van drew his sword, and Selen readied her magic gun.

“Luke. What is that?”

“One of Elzen’s allies, someone we defeated in the past. —A dead man.”

The tragedy of Osten passed through his mind. The lives of the companions he had nearly lost. For Luke, a dark memory he was not allowed to forget had appeared once more as a shadow.

“A Unison Link combining a human and a monster—human-monster fusion, was it?”

His grip on his sword grew especially tight. This might be Luke’s turning point.