Chapter 5: The Rebirth of the Spirit

"Ha..., ha..."

Hiding in a deserted alley, the boy fiercely swirled his shoulders up and down. Large beads of sweat exuded down from his forehead as he pressed against his bleeding arm. The boy gritted with the back of his teeth to endure the pain while slowly squatting his body against the wall.

"I-it's nothing to worry about, Mio..." "Un...compared to that, show me your arm."

As the boy was asked, Mio, who was also running away into the alley behind him, placed her hand over the boy's arm with a calm expression.

Then, as the part wrapped in her hand began to emit a faint glow, the pain felt by the boy's arm slowly disappeared.

"Wow...that is amazing."

"I just blocked the wound with reiryoku. ──From that."

While speaking, Mio glanced quickly towards the direction of the street. From there came a steady stream of footsteps and voice searching for the boy and others.

"...Ah. Who are those people?"

The boy whispered while staring at the silhouette flashing through the slit in the building.

That right. Right now the boy and Mio were being perused by an enigmatic group.

The reasons for the pursuit and their true identity were not clear. However, while the boy and Mio were going shopping like usual, foreigners suddenly appeared and began to attack them. It was just like a cheap scene from an action movie.

"..."

Mio closed her lips, remaining silent. The boy slanted his head in curiosity. "Un? What's wrong, Mio."

"....Probably, they are chasing after me." "Huh?"

"Inside, there were some people I had the impression of having seen already. We've talked about this before, the people I remember seeing first."

Mio creased her eyebrows as she painfully continued.

"...I'm sorry. You got involved because of me. ──Run away, after that I'll..." "I don't want that!"

The boy interrupted Mio's words as she quickly sprang back up. "Eh──"

"From the every moment, I talked to the girl at the center of that explosion; I

was already prepared for trouble. And──"

The boy pulled up Mio's hands in order to prevent her from seeing his flustered face while he was speaking.

"We are...family." "… !"

Mio's hands trembled a bit from being surprised. Afterwards, she tightly gripped back on the boy's hands.

There was no need for words. This was the best answer. The boy gave a slight nod, pulling on Mio's hand as they began walking.

"──Anyway, let's first head to the police. We'll say that were being chased by dangerous people and need protection. Don't look down on the rule of law for this country..."

However, at that moment, the boy suddenly stopped his feet dead in his tracks. The reason was simple. Just as they were leaving the alley, they ran into a man while walking.

Bright blond hair and a lean face, it was a westerner who was dressed in black clothes. Without a doubt, he was part of the group chasing the boy earlier.

"...! Get down!"

Mio stepped forward as if to cover the boy. "Mio!"

"It will be fine, I won't kill him....!" After saying that, Mio glared at the man.

However, the thick tension did not last very long. ──Since the man took in a heavy sigh while placing his hand against his forehead.

"...Hey, hey, are serious. You're the ones who ran into me here!" Then, the man began to speak in fluent Japanese.

"Huh..."

The unexpected response left the boy and Mio momentarily stunned. However, the man continued to speak in a calm voice.

"….... Mio, so is that this child's name?"

"...Ah, I choose it."

"That's a really good name."

Then, as the man was speaking, he turned his attention to Mio. "Hey, right now──are you happy?"

"...At the least, I don't have any propensity to rejoice when chased by hostile

people."

"N-no, I didn't mean it like that. ...Do you want to stay with that boy?" "… "

Although Mio stared at the man with some ounce of hesitation, she gave him a swift but small nod.

"So that's it."

Then while the man let out another deep breath, he made a thumb up expression while directing them back to the alley.

"──Go."

"...Ha?"

Hearing those unexpected words shocked the boy's eyes opened. For a moment, he thought it was a trick to cause him to lower his caution. However, he couldn't detect the slightest degree of hostility coming from that man.

"W-what do you mean?"

"There's no time for asking that. Hurry up and go ahead. Otherwise──" "! Found them! Over there!"

The next moment, a large cry was heard coming from the street. Accompanied by intense footsteps, three chasers ran over.

"Aaahh really, didn't I say so."

The man then exaggeratingly shrugged his shoulders, placing his head on his forehead as he sharpened his gaze and stomped on the ground.

Then, after slipping past the boy and Mio, he opened of his palm, striking the pursuers directly at the stomach.

"Kaha...!?"

"Woodman-san, what...!"

The pursers let out a pained voice as they fell to the ground one by one. The man who was called Woodman scratched his head as if annoyed by the trouble. Then, he pointed his thumb to the alley to urge the boy once again.

"...Hurry. That child──Mio. I'm leaving it up to you, boy." "...Ah, um...!"

Whether it was infighting or betrayal──it wasn't clear what had just happened, but they seemed to be saved. Shortly after, the boy grabbed Mio's hand and began to run.

However, while he didn't know how long they ran, he suddenly felt the force exerted by Mio's hand, which suddenly pulled the boy backwards.

"Waa!?"

The sudden emergency brake caused the boy's body to sway back from whiplash.

At that moment, "pan!" accompanied by a dry sound, in front of the boy─

─or rather the location he was just at a moment ago had burst into sparks. "Wha..."

The boy furrowed his brow. Following this action, a number of pursers armed with guns appeared from the front alley.

And from the very back of the group──a very prominent man came to the forefront.

It was a tall man who was about 20 years old. He was characterized by dim silver hair and rusty eyes. Although his expression and behavior were very gentle, his body was emitting the strange atmosphere that he couldn't completely hide.

"──Long time no see, Spirit. I've wanted to see you." "… "

Mio let out a sullen expression. However, the man did not take heed towards that and simply redirected his attention to the boy.

"This is our first time meeting, isn't it boy. Thank you so much for protecting

our Spirit. I really appreciate it. Of course, we've prepared a corresponding gift in return."

The man let out a light smile while speaking. Hearing these words that resembled as if one was treating a pet, the boy could not help but raise his voice.

"What are you playing at──" However.

"──We are currently protecting your sister. Let's return to each other everything to the correct path."

"Wha...!?" "..."

Hearing what the man had just said, the boy and Mio both stood breathless for an instant.

"You bastard! If you try to do anything to Mana, I will never forgive you...!"

"Huh? So that girl is called Mana. Haha, looks like my joke was useful after all. It seems that there was not without reason that the Spirit drifted into your hands."

While not understanding of anything being wrong, the man openly laughed.

Of course, he may have been lying about abducting Mana. However, his frantic behavior and numerous subordinates likely meant he wasn't kidding.

Having probably guessed the same thing as the boy, Mio stepped forward with a sullen expression.

"...Promise me that if I go with you, you'll return Mana." "Ah, of course."

"Mio!?"

The boy let out a surprised voice. However, Mio slowly turned around.

"...It's alright. Originally, I am an existence that shouldn't have appeared here. I can't afford to put Mana in danger because of me. ──Even if it was short, I was happy to be with you."

"──, …...."

From the depth of the boy's throat, he let out an inaudible sound. Mio gently smiled before walking towards the men.

However──

"...Don't joke about that...!"

With strength infused to his trembling body, the boy rushed to grab Mio's hand in order to take her to quickly escape.

"! Wait!" "Scoundrel──"

Left in a panic, the pursuers took out their guns and began shooting; sparks flew as their bullets ricocheted against the wall.

"What are you──"

"You idiot. Do you really think that these guys are trustworthy!? Even if

they've got you, there's no guarantee they won't kill me or Mana afterwards!" "...! That's──"

"As long as your still here with me, they won't be able to lay a hand on Mana!

In any case ──let's rethink our position. Recapture Mana while also continuing to let Mio to live happily. That is the best route!"

The boy was screaming while running. Mio opened her eyes with a feeling of relief.

"...! Un...!"

However──at that very instant.

"──Oh my, how troubling. I wasn't intending to lie."

From the corner of his vision, he saw the figure of a man holding a large caliber gun.

The boy felt a scalding feeling come from his chest. "Ah────?"

After a single pulse, the boy understood that he had just been shot.

Severe pain. The vibrations transmitted throughout his body made it impossible to breathe. Suddenly, his legs went limp as he collapsed on the spot. Slowly, slowly, he felt the feeling of being soaked by a lukewarm puddle.

"──!? ──!"

Mio was saying something, desperately shouting something. But soon, even those voices could no longer be heard.

◇

After an uncountable number of sword clashes, magical light scattered into the air.

Artemisia slightly distorted her eyebrows while shaking off the laser spear dispatched by Origami.

"──Sure enough, you're very capable." "You as well."

Origami responded back to Artemisia's praise.

Nonetheless, she was faintly aware from the previous battle that the combat ability of these two fighters was not truly equal.

Indeed, the amount of power Origami had at her disposal was staggering. Integrating a hybrid between her limited Astral Dress and Angel with her CR- Unit was perhaps something no one else in the world other than her was capable of achieving.

However, even with that additional maneuver, Artemisia was still the dominant one in the battle. It might have been a different story if Origami had full access to her Spirit powers. Unfortunately, it would difficult to defeat Artemisia with her powers sealed.

Be that as it may, it was likely that Artemisia also understood that.

Origami also understood by now that she couldn't presently rival Artemisia. That is why, rather than attempting to kill Artemisia, Origami intentions lied on a defensive front aimed at securing enough time.

That's right, just as if waiting for something. "… "

Artemisia took a quick glance at her surroundings to assess the current situation.

In the nearby surroundings the and DEM's wizards were fighting against Mana and the Spirits and . Amidst that chaotic battle, Artemisia was engaging on a one-on-one battle against Origami, which was likely due to their plan to block access to support from other magicians.

──Was their purpose to delay Artemisia here? No, while it is important to suppress the enemy's no. 2, it would only be meaningful for the opposing party if they approach this while maintaining numerical superiority. For stopping Artemisia alone, they were using a large portion of their military force in the form of three Spirits and a Wizard. From that perspective, it seemed hardly cost efficient.

"Your goal──what on earth is it?" "… "

Although she tried to pressure Origami with her interrogation, Origami's facial expression had not changed in the slightest.

When it comes to Origami, her most terrifying aspect lies in her cunning rather than pure brute strength. Even though she was in no danger of losing if this continued, Artemisia still wanted to decide the outcome as soon as possible.

However, in order to do so, she needed at least one more helper. The person's strength need not compete with Origami's skill level. At that very least, it need only be a person to cut off Origami's escape route──

"──!"

While in mid-thought, Artemisia twitched her eyebrows slightly.

It was because an allied signal was confirmed by the sensor being projected onto her retina.

While also paying attention to Origami, Artemisia looked over to the other side, where several Wizards passing through the neighboring battlefield were quickly approaching their location.

Looking at the CR-Units they had equipped on, they were not DEM wizards. Likely, they were the local AST members that were requested. To be honest, their strength is lacking when combating against Spirits. However, in this demanding situation, reinforcements was exactly what was she needed.

"Just in time. This is DEM second executive officer, Artemisia Ashcroft. Call sign number is Adeptus 2. I am currently battling the Spirit. Please help block off the enemy's escape route──after that I'll handle everything else."

Artemisia spoke out while kicking against the sky to accelerate towards Origami.

However.

"...Sorry, but we can't live up to your expectations. ──After all, we are all now unemployed!"

At the next moment, after hearing that voice from behind, the AST members began to open fire.

──Their target, Artemisia. "Wha...!?"

The sudden outburst left Artemisia momentarily stunned.

The laser blasts created dazzling gleams of light as they struck the territory enveloping Artemisia's body.

Of course, the artillery shells fired by numerous Wizards were not enough to even scratch Artemisia's Voluntary Territory. However, as a result of the unexpected attack, Artemisia attention momentarily faltered.

That mere moment was worth more than gold for the opposing side. "──Fu────ha!"

Observing the crack in Artemisia's attention being scattered, Origami lunged

at Artemisia while sharpening her spear by absorbing the ambient magical power from the surroundings.

"──!"

But, Artemisia was still──a monster.

Artemisia manipulated her territory in a flash, exerting a force against her own body in order for it to bend at an unnatural angle. Ribs crunched. There was no doubt that they were broken.

However, it was precisely because of this that Artemisia avoided Origami's blow. No──it would be too much to say that she had completely avoided. The cutting edge of Origami's blade beautifully sliced through the Territory, rendering Artemisia's flank asunder.

However, since her internal organs were safe, it was not a fatal blow that would eliminate her from the fight. Artemisia quickly retaliated by slashing at Origami with her laser sword .

"Ku..."

Blood splashed into the sky, Origami let out an anguished voice as Artemisia brazenly grinned with perspiration dripping from her face.

"A draw──no, I won."

But then, Origami made a rare action to move raise corners of her mouth.

"...No. It's mine──our, victory."

At that instant── "Huh...?"

Artemisia could not help let out her voice against that strange feeling. A strange object had appeared at the edge of her horizon.

It was──a key.

The tip of the huge key-shaped staff protruded from the void and towards Artemisia's head.

Angel. The key angel, .

Far behind Origami, she could see the figure of the Spirit──, who inserted the key into the void.

At last, Artemisia understood.

Having AST Artemisia's attraction, her victory against Origami──for the sake of their plan, even Origami was a decoy.

"──."

From the other side of the empty space exuding the key, a voice echoed at the same time as the key turned.

"Ah──"

A great deal of information, bursting in just like a stream, flowed into Artemisia's mind.

"...As expected of Captain. You made the correct judgement...you were a great help."

"...No kidding, really. Time will not go back. Goodbye my civil servant life..."

Her eardrum trembled from the conversation between Origami and the AST members.

While listening to a conversation on the battlefield that lacked any tension, Artemisia's consciousness was overwhelmed by the waves of memory surging in.

◇

"──Ufufu, Shidou-san, how long do you intend to act like that? Well, although I'm willing to accept it, but unfortunately isn't this still the center of the battlefield?"

"...! Ah──."

Hearing Kurumi's teasing manner, Shidou let go of his hand as his shoulders began to tremble a little.

In the midst of the chaotic war, he thought that this sarcastic quip would come from the , but he didn't expect it to come from her.

Behind her, she was accompanied by the giant clock . ──This was not a clone. Rather, it was the genuine Spirit, Tokisaki Kurumi.

"Kurumi, I──."

Just as Shidou was about to speak, he stopped himself mid-sentence. No, contrary to his own intentions, he had stopped himself.

Shidou had already known that Kurumi was on the battlefield as well, but after seeing Kurumi in person, the desire to speak piled up just like a mountain.

However──no, it was precisely because of the sudden encounter with Kurumi that Shidou's mind became flooded with so many thoughts that clogged against his ability to properly speak.

"Ara, ara."

Was it because she had caught Shidou acting in such a manner? After flirtatiously raising the corners of her lips, she reached to embrace Shidou's neck. Then, she tightly pulled closer to him.

"Wha──?"

Although shocked, Shidou immediately calmed down.

Since Shidou heard deafening gunshot resounds right behind him. "Kya..."

Behind his back, a collapsed while letting out a dying cry. Apparently, Kurumi had shot the in the forehead using the gun in her hand.

"You can't be too careless."

"A-ah, thank you Kurumi. You saved me, you're a lifesaver." "Ufufu, that's quite the exaggeration."

Kurumi replied back in a joking manner. However, for Shidou, those words were not an exaggeration at all. On the contrary, it couldn't even convey one percent of the feelings held within his mind.

"No, it's not just for now. Since the very beginning──you've saved me countless times. So really, thank you very much. No matter what...I want to tell you that directly."

"..."

Hearing what Shidou had said, Kurumi remained silent for a while. However, she immediately bounced back with a revitalized smile.

"Ara, ara, you're very welcome. Then, as thanks for that, can Shidou-san give me his reiryoku?"

"That's a separate matter!"

"Ufufu, that's a shame. It looks like I'll have to switch to a more forceful manner…..ack!"

Shidou and Kurumi exchanged loud shouts as they kicked off against the ground at the same time.

Rather than falling into an impasse; instead, both of them left to repel the incoming attack lead by the .

Kurumi fired a consecutive barrage of shadow bullets at the .

Meanwhile, Shidou blew a kiss at the in anticipation of at the same time of snatching their lips away. The other , who had saw this scene, turned beet red in embarrassment before fading away.

"Fu...ahahahaha! What is that!"

Looking at Shidou's method of repelling the , Kurumi laughed at the amusing action from the depths of her heart.

"Using such a means to deal with the that can resurrect

endlessly...? Ufufu, so that reason why Shidou-san, who is being targeted, rushed to the forefront. When I first recognized Shidou at the battlefield, I was contemplating killing you myself."

"Hey, hey..."

Shidou let out a wry smile as he heard Kurumi's dangerous speech, but it wasn't as if he couldn't understand Kurumi's intentions. Making countless sacrifices to protect others, it was just like streaking through a minefield. Even

if it were not Kurumi, anyone would be forced to adopt a killing intent at that situation.

However, Shidou was the same in that respect.

Before departing, he was instructed by Kotori to keep survival as his first priority.

It was akin to chasing two people simultaneously down the rabbit hole. Even so, Shidou constantly reminded himself not to fall too fall too deep in order to reach Kurumi.

However, he still could not stop. In this chaotic battlefield, if he missed this opportunity of a miraculous encounter like that, Shidou thought he would no longer be able to seize Kurumi's hand.

Shidou resolved of the on his side before shouting loudly towards Kurumi.

"──Kurumi! I'm grateful from the bottom of my heart for you saving me!

Thanks to you the Spirits didn't inverse either! Thank you so

much! ...However, should I honestly hide since DEM is attacking with all their might!? I don't remember asking for that extent! I'm not happy that you're saving my life in exchange for your own life!"

"...Ara? That's pretty arrogant; I just want the power of Shidou-san's

reiryoku. Besides, in exchange for my life? That makes me feel like I'm being underestimated. Do you think, I, Tokisaki Kurumi, will lose against DEM?"

"...N-no, it's just in practice it would be a bitter fight regardless of acting tough!"

Hearing Shidou cry out after kissing the , Kurumi let out an impatient stare at that direction.

"Don't pretend to be brave. It's honestly fine for Shidou-san to wait obediently onboard that aircraft. After this is over, you can be chocked with tears of gratitude and present me your reiryoku in return!"

"In that case, wouldn't that just change my murderer from DEM to you!?"

"I didn't say that! I will change everything with Shidou-san's reiryoku. Before you even notice it, it will already be a new world! Spirits will no longer exist, everything will return back to a calm and peaceful world!"

"There is no power that can perfectly revise history! Do you think that the changes will occur that smoothly!?"

"I don't want to hear that from someone who has already successfully changed history!"

"When you put it like that, dammit it!"

Hearing Kurumi cite such a powerful example, Shidou issued out a loud lament.

Shidou had already succeeded once in changing history through borrowing the power of Kurumi's angel .

"That's right! "Shidou-san's death" will disappear by itself. So what else is there a reason to be dissatisfied!?"

"There will definitely be dissatisfaction!" "So then, what exactly──"

"If everything did not happen...that means I would have never met you!

Even that very fact would disappear, right!" "… !"

Hearing Shidou suddenly shout, Kurumi was at a loss of words.

"I like you; I can't stand having my encounter with you simply fade away!" "Wha...what are you saying, at this time. Did you hit your head?!"

"I didn't hit my head! I'm very clear-headed right now. Anyhow, Kurumi, don't you also like me as well!"

"Ha...ah!?"

Hearing what Shidou had said, Kurumi could only stare in alarm. "What...! Please don't arbitrarily talk about the feelings of others!"

"No ──I'm not mistaken! Why else you repeat time for over 200 times for a person you don't like!"

"That was for the sake of obtaining your reiryoku──"

"Don't forget I relived your memories through the tenth bullet ." "────."

Kurumi held her breath in surprise.

Exactly the other day, Shidou had experience Kurumi's past through the power of the Tenth Bullet of .

However, at the same time, it wasn't just the motives for revenge that flowed into Shidou's mind.

Fragmentary──but surely it was her feelings towards Shidou.

The passionate sentiments of a young maiden that one would cast away as forbidden to avoid shame, it was the aftermath of those thoughts that was conveyed to Shidou.

"…, ...! ...."

Kurumi flushed bright red just like a tomato. After writhing in embarrassment for a brief moment, she finally adjusted her breathing and stared at Shidou.

"...Even if you are saying the truth, it's terrible to say that while kissing other women."

"I'm very sorry!"

On one side, Shidou honestly apologized, while on the other he exchanging a passionate kiss with the . The staggered on her feet for a while, but eventually groaned out a "hawa" sound before disappearing into light particles.

Kurumi turned the other way while let out a "huff" sound from her nose. Afterwards, with her throat slightly trembling, she tightened the grip on her gun.

"Doesn't that mean──you want me to give up on my goal? Let me abandon the many lives that I've robbed? ──Sawa-san, are you asking me let her stay dead without even trying to save her?"

Quiet──but Kurumi's voice was full of intense anger and resentment. "No way."

Shidou shook his head in response.

"Like I said, I've experienced your memories. How could it ever be simple to advise you to give up?"

"...Then, what do you intend to do? Not only opposed to erasing our encounter, but also not intending to let me give up on my goal? No matter how it's phrased, that's too contradictory.

"Aahh...that's right. Even I feel what I said was absurd. ──But!" Shidou cried out after launching a kiss at the .

"Ah, this really is a last resort! In order to achieve both of our wishes!" "Huh...?"

"──Not everything! Just to overturn only the bad things. Making choices in the development of things in order to change history into its ideal form...! If that were achievable, what do you think?"

Shidou raised his voice to a scream that felt like he was crushing his own throat. In response, Kurumi wrinkled her brows as if not understanding what he was saying.

"W-what are you saying...? I can't understand this at all. Do you think that something like that can be accomplished...?"

"I don't know." "… "

Upon hearing Shidou's affirmation, Kurumi made a sullen face. However, Shidou expected as much and continued forward.

"That's for sure! After all, it's yet to be tried. However, it is a gamble worth betting on!"

"...Then let's hear it. ──This pipe dream, what can be done to achieve this?" "Good question! First off, I will seal your reiryoku!"

Hearing Shidou's words, Kurumi could only let out a sigh.

"I really shouldn't have asked. There's no value discussing this over. This conversation──"

But.

Shidou continued on without any concern.

"──Afterwards, with my reiryoku, I'll use in order to travel back to 30 years ago...!"

"….... ,Ha──"

Listening to this.

Kurumi stared vacantly, with her eyes becoming blank two dots on a line.

"What...is the purpose of that? That would be no different than I going myself ──"

"There is one thing! From Kurumi's perspective, you can only stop the birth of the Spirit of Origin! However, if I went, I can perhaps seal the power of the Spirit of Origin...!"

"Seal...!? Your plan is to seal the power of the Spirit of Origin...!?"

Perhaps shocked by Shidou's intentions, Kurumi filled with an unusual amount of confusion in her voice. Having just dodged danger by a hair's breath, Shidou replied by back by nodding and saying "yes!"

"That's right! That person is also a Spirit!? Then, that would be my job! Although I don't know how much reiryoku she has in the end, but let me── make her fall in love!"

"...!?"

Hearing that, Kurumi was rendered momentarily stunned. Shidou continued to push forward with this momentum.

"And then! If I seal the Spirit of Origin, I will use that power...to redo history! The misfortune that happen to Kurumi! I will walk into that carnage to ensure that life will have never happened! Afterwards, I want to──meet with you again. Not only that! The same is true for the other Spirits! Reaching a hand out to those who need salvation, repairing an irreversible mistake! I will

create the most ideal history...!"

"Wha…what are you saying! That kind of chance for success, then──"

"That's the reason I said I don't know! But isn't this so-called Spirit of Origin the existence that became the source of all other Spirits!? If so, she should have a terrible power to match that! So then──there is one thing certain!"

Shidou pointed his thumb against his chest. "Let me repeat back what you just said, Kurumi.

I am the only one in the world. A human who has rewritten history!" "────"

Kurumi was at a loss for words as she stared blankly at Shidou.

However, at the moment, there was a scream of annoyance coming from the front.

"Aaaaa! Don't ignore my existence, while enjoying a world with only two people──!"

Accompanied by the cry of the , countless pages fluttered around just like a blizzard.

The numerous pages gathered around one , surrounding the body tightly just like secure armor.

" ─── ...!"

The , wrapped in paper armor, pounced off against the ground and lunged towards Kurumi at a tremendous speed. With their shoulders reflexively moving in a flash, Shidou and Kurumi released a bullet and blew a kiss at the same time.

However─── "Fuu!"

The flicked off the bullet and subsequently ignoring the thrown kiss while continuing to make a mad dash forward.

Yet, that was to be expected, the paper armor wrapping on the completely covered even her eyes.

"...Ah."

At that position, it was already too late for both of them even if they had already notice it beforehand. The 's speed was to the point where even Kurumi could not evade it with her own physical prowess.

'Kurumi───" "...!"

"Kiyahahahaha Dieeeee!"

Aiming to lunge at Kurumi's right side, the armor on the 's forearm had transformed into a conical spear.

───The sharp blow from the approached her chest at tremendous speed.

At such a sight, Kurumi felt like in was rendered in slow motion.

This was not Kurumi using to accelerate her own movements. Nor was it the speed of the being actually slowed down.

It was only a condensing of one's consciousness producing such a brief illusion of instantaneous time.

This was the so-called revolving lantern caused by the brain, during the peril of death, to find a countermeasure through past experiences and memories. Right now, Kurumi was in a similar state. While, her consciousness was still very clear, the reaction time of her body could not keep up with that very same consciousness just as she was about to receive a fatal blow.

From this timing, it would be difficult to completely avoid the 's attack. As long as it was not a fatal blow, Kurumi could still use the fourth bullet . However, if a clean hit was landed, it would doubtful to say

that the would let her do that instead of pursing to strike her down.

A miscalculation. Sure enough the fighting should have been left to the clones while the main body watched from a distance while hiding in her shadow.

──No, they would be at a large disadvantage anyway. Fighting without using

would only be wasting her troops in vain.

No, before that, there was something more to reflect on.

Ahh──that's right. It was impossible not to be distracted by Shidou's voice.

No matter how fast the 's attack is, as long as struck again in the gap time to recover, she should have enough time to reload a bullet from

.

Having said that, it was also unavoidable.

Because of Shidou's words, a voice──that swayed Kurumi's heart. Preposterous, absurd, and nonsensical prattle.

However, Kurumi thought to herself.

How wonderful it would be if that actually came true. How happy it would be to entrust that dream.

If you had to die like this, at the very least, you should entrust your strength to Shidou──

"──So, is me, thinking something along those lines?" Just then.

Amidst her keen consciousness, a voice resounded that had read through Kurumi's heart.

At that moment.

From Kurumi's shadow, a Kurumi clone wearing a distinctive eyepatch emerged and accepted the incoming blow from the with her own body.

──There was no doubt. This was the Tokisaki Kurumi clones from five years ago that Kurumi had kept alive during that time.

Flowers of blood bloomed in front of Kurumi's vision. The tip of the hand penetrating eyepatch Kurumi was exposed right in front of her face.

"Me...!?"

Finally, her body's reaction time caught up with her mental timing. A stunned voice leaked out from her throat.

However, Kurumi quickly regained her composure.

With her body still penetrated by the 's hand, eyepatch Kurumi glanced towards Kurumi's direction

"──See, look...? Useful, in the end...right?" After finishing, she smiled slightly proudly.

"────, Yes. Although, this wasn't my originally intention, it was worthwhile to keep you alive."

Immediately, Kurumi took out her short pistol and snipped the with the while aiming over eyepatch Kurumi's shoulder.

The bullet condensed burst against the paper armor surrounding the

.

The time reversal of the Fourth Bullet turned the iron clad armor back into scattering sheets of paper.

Suddenly, the completely defenseless.

The next moment, it seemed that Shidou, who running towards Kurumi, extended out his hands towards the 's neck and stole her lips.

"Yaa──n..."

Letting out a sweet voice, the faded away into light particle. After confirming the scene, Shidou quickly turned his attention to Kurumi.

"Are you alright, Kurumi!" "...Yes."

Kurumi replied back while staring at the pool of blood beside Eyepatch Kurumi. Shidou, who saw it as well, was filled with a grief stained expression. However, eyepatch Kurumi responded back with a satisfied smile.

"Me, please... honestly...confront your own heart──" After finishing, she collapsed into the shadow.

"Kurumi, that──"

"──Please do not mind the me that was supposed have already been dead. Although it was a hopeless clone, she was finally useful before dying."

"…..Ug, there's no need to say that..."

Half way through, Shidou stopped speaking. Surely, it was because he saw Kurumi looking down with her lips tightly pursed.

"..."

Kurumi turned toward Shidou for a moment, before taking a light breath to regain her composure. Afterwards, she turned to face Shidou once again.

That's right. Kurumi must ask him.

To verify whether or not the idea that passed through her mind when she preparing for death was correct or not.

In order to confirm to herself if she could follow through with what Eyepatch Kurumi, the one who had saved her life, had said.

"──Moreover, Shidou-san, what you said before, how serious about it were you?"

As Kurumi asked while intently staring at his eyes, Shidou answered back while slightly furrowing his brow.

"Of course──from the bottom of my heart." "… "

While staring back directly at her line of sight, Shidou replied back candidly.

──Ahh, how annoying. How really annoying.

He, from the bottom of his heart, believes in something that is not known whether or not it's actually possible to achieve.

And even knowing that the road will be filled with suffering, he still planned to bring it to fruition.

Yes, for Shidou, there wasn't even the slightest hint of hesitation.

And it was all for the sake on the account of a dream that Kurumi had told. Surely──even before to say, "I like you" as well.

"──Ahh, ahh, I really am stupid."

Kurumi let out a self-depreciating sigh before continuing onward. "Hey──Shidou-san, do you still remember that? The contest between us." "Huh?"

Hearing what Kurumi had said, Shidou widened his gaze as he replied back. "...whoever makes the other fall in love, wins?"

"──Fufu."

Kurumi slowly loosened her mouth as she began to speak.

"Let's continue the rest of this chat after this battle. If DEM is repelled and after the threat on Shidou's life is adverted──my lips devoting you might not be a bad idea."

"...! Really, Kurumi...!"

Shidou's eyes widened in surprise upon hearing what was said.

Seeing that look, Kurumi could not help but almost laugh. ──Having tried to wear a graceful conduct up until now, it seemed he couldn't maintain that aloof demeanor up until the very end as his eyes began glimmering just like a child.

"...Really, how cute." "Huh?"

"It's nothing. ──More than that, it's only if you last long enough to defeat DEM. Well, ufufu, can you manage that Shidou-san?"

"Of course! After that is done, we'll discuss facing the Spirit of Origin as an adversary together!"

After Shidou spoke out full of vigor, he gently extended out hand out to Kurumi.

As if saying, let's go together. "…..Fufu."

Kurumi let out faint as she slowly lifted up her own hand towards his. Then, at that moment──

◇

"A..... ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh──!"

──A cry of grief dominated the entire world.

Uncontrollable sobs of tears was overflowing from the eyes as the sounds of incessant screams screeched out from the throat.

But such a thing could not even convey a single fragment of Mio's tremendous sorrow.

Right now before Mio──only the boy was laying in front of him.

At that moment, the boy was shot after trying to escape after taking Mio's hand. Mio, who was overwhelmed by anger, sadness, and confusion, indiscriminately dispersed her reiryoku without any distinction, which subsequently destroyed her surroundings and allowed her to flee the scene.

There were no wounds left on the boy's body, since Mio had used her reiryoku to close his wounds.

However──the boy would still not wake up.

Certainty, with Mio's power, she could heal an injured body. However, it was impossible to restore a life once it had been lost. "Why…..w…why….."

Mio──cried.

She cried, cried, unable to stop weeping, to the point she lost track of the passage of time.

Even so, the tears would not stop.

Mio was extremely grateful to the boy. Mio liked the boy.

If the boy had never found Mio, she would never be where she was now. The boy gave her a home, food, clothing, as well as knowledge, Mio understood that well.

But──wrong.

Those things were already gone.

Now that the boy had passed away, where she can no longer meet again, only then did Mio finally understand.

How large of existence that boy was to her heart, how irreplaceable he was to her.

After that one person was gone, the world that was once so colorful turned to an ashen shade of gray. Even the days once filled was hope, everything was gone.

There first encounter happened by chance. But now it wasn't an exaggeration to say──that boy was Mio's reason to live. He was everything to her.

If she had never met the boy.

If she had not relied on the boy so much. If she had chosen death for herself──

──the boy may not have died.

Meaningless regret circled around her mind. "..., ..."

Mio bit against her lip until it was bleeding while scuffling against her hair. She channeled her thought process towards thinking. With all of the knowledge that had been accumulated up until now. Using all of the conjectures and imagination derived from those experiences to find a means of overcoming this despair.

However, no matter how much she thought, no answer came.

Human beings were too fragile. Even if he had successful survived that moment, as long as that boy was targeted by that group of men, he would still someday die.

No, no only that. Human beings were terribly short-lived.

From the knowledge obtained in books and her own understanding; unlike Mio, human beings could only live for about 100 years at best.

Even if all of the other problems were ruled out, the boy would still likely die before Mio. Could she tolerate such a fact?

"..."

In order to see the boy's smile again.

In order to stay with the boy for as long as possible, what exactly needed to be done?

Mio was in deep thought.

Continuing on──thinking and thinking.

──How long did it take? "...Ah............... "

Without even noticing it her lips rustled against each other, leaking out a small voice.

"That's...right..."

Mio unsteadily propped his body, looking at the boy's quiet sleep like expression.

"──Rebuilding from scratch...that should enough." She murmured while gently caressing the boy's cheeks. Yes.

This was the answer Mio had reached after her long thought process.

──Mio licked her wet lips, drawing closer to the boy's face.

Then, she pressed her lips onto his lips.

Although his lips felt soft, all body temperature had been lost. "… "

Mio closed her eyes to concentrate.

It was the feeling of altering the surrounding world with her mind.

Then, the boy's body transformed into faint light particles──slowly being absorbed into Mio's body.

"...Un….... "

After Mio completely absorbed the boy's body, she let out a small sigh while getting up at the same time.

Then, she gently stroked her belly.

"──I will give birth to you; once again you will be born." This time you will never die.

This time you will never be broken."

The boy who already died would not come back to life.

Then──using her own womb, she could just recreate the boy altogether. No, it was more than just that.

In the process of reconstructing his body in her womb, Mio would bestow a power onto the boy.

The boy will once again have his own body while also gaining the power of a Spirit.

Ahhh──however, doing only that was not enough.

The human body was still too fragile. If she gave everything at once, his body would not be able to endure it and would self-destruct.

Little by little, little by little.

It had to be divided into several factors first before handing it to the boy one by one.

So initially, there will be only one ability given to prepare for that. "──The ability to absorb power."

Someday, one day, once the boy is born he will be raised, and obtain a stable

body.

Then, she would have to spread the seeds across the world for him get it one by one.

Mio would watch only from the sidelines.

Then, once the boy obtained all of the power──

The boy will have a power that would prevent him from being harmed by anyone.

Close to possessing an eternal life. Afterwards, he will be Mio's eternal lover.

"──I'll never let you go. I absolutely won't make a mistake anymore. Mio muttered while gently stroking her stomach.

So..... please wait──Shin."

◇

"────Huh...?" On the battlefield.

Shidou let out an almost muted sound.

Yet that was to be expected. After all, from his side, there was a hand that did not belong to Kurumi extending out from Kurumi chest.

This was neither a metaphor nor a joke. Like a fresh flower in bloom, a white hand stretched out from Kurumi's chest.

While watching this scene with strange scene of déjà vu unfolding, Shidou thought to himself that he had seen this before.

That right. During June. On the school rooftop.

The sight was just like the time when the real Kurumi struck down from behind a clone who also extending her hand out to Shidou.

For a passing second, Shidou's mind immediately recreated that fateful scene. However, the Kurumi in front of him right now was undoubtedly the original. Additionally, the hand extending outward did not seem like Kurumi's, and he highly doubted that there would be a clone who wants to pass through using the chest of the original.

But if that were the case... "...Huh?"

While seemingly a little late to notice, Kurumi stared at her chest blankly with eyes wide open as if not understanding what was occurring.

"Wha...is...this...? "Ah────"

Following Kurumi's voice, the arm extended out little by little.

It was just like something was crawling out of Kurumi. "Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah............. "

"Kurumi!"

As the arms moved its fingers to claw itself outside, Kurumi let out an agonizing groan. Shidou instinctively called out her name.

However, the progress did not stop until eventually───

"Tokisaki Kurumi. Thank you. You were a wonderful friend up until the very end."

Accompanied by that voice, it revealed its appearance.