Deep underground, the Cauldron with its mouth opened had its somewhat cool heat drifting upward. Presently, an unexpectedly solemn mood enveloped it.
Even if the illuminations from the connected metals the people had especially made weren't turned on, the overwhelming red flame was enough to get a good view.
Just how deep was the Sheol Gate burrowed within it?
With the flame being projected around the vicinity of his vision, Ragna stopped the feet that had been slowly moving forward.
He looked around. Looking for the owner of the voice from before.
He knew whose voice it was. A sweet voice with youth and bewitchment mixed in.
"You're here, right...? Rachel!"
Ragna's voice vanished as it was absorbed by the tall ceilings. An existence that had surpassed mankind was looking down from somewhere, probably digging up for some entertainment.
As the air flowed, a sweet aroma tickled Ragna's nose. It was the fragrance of roses.
Ragna looked over his shoulder with his mouth distorted. His sharp canines stood out like bare fangs.
"There, huh? Don't look down on people."
On a part of bare bedrock with the wallboards peeled off, as if she was sitting, she had her small legs crossed. A young girl clad in a black dress was floating.
"It has been a long time."
With an innocent voice, she smiled. The young girl was surrounded by winds that had a rose fragrance. Then she elegantly stood up.
The Cauldron's illumination, enriched with bright-red light, carved a shadow from the young girl's ribbons. The silhouette looked like a rabbit.
Ragna felt that something was out of place in her appearance.
2106 AD. The Rachel Alucard in this period should have still been a child and not yet acquainted with Ragna. But young appearance or not, did she have an unusual air of a know-it-all like the Rachel Alucard who stood before Ragna now had?
"Fufu," said her as a fingertip touched her small lips. Rachel had revealed a grown-up laughter that felt inappropriate.
"You are such a fool. Where do you think we are? ...We are currently near the Boundary."
With just that, she spoke as if it contained all the reasons for it. But surely it wasn't convincing enough for him.
This location was closer to the Boundary compared to any other place.
As if dragging out Ragna's lost memories, Rachel's existence must have made all information he had obtained flowing into him again.
Basically, the 'Rachel' Ragna was confronting now was the 'Rachel' from his period. She was the same as the one in the information which his memories carried.
"What kind of business bothered you to call me? You know this already, but I'm kinda busy right now."
"Of course. I'm confident that it's about Kushinada's Lynchpin. The mankind in this era certainly created something intriguing."
"You saw everything, huh?"
She probably watched the arguing when Shuuichirou Ayatsuki passed away and the encounter with Hakumen before it. It didn't feel too nice being constantly monitored from somewhere.
"Good timing. Since you're the Rachel Alucard I know, I got something for you to hear."
Her bright red eyes urged him to proceed.
"During the Dark War, there should have been a time when the Black Beast didn't appear for about a year."
If Ragna's knowledge wasn't wrong, it was in 2107 AD. Just in a year, humanity had been given a recess.
"Was that... the Kushinada's Lynchpin's doing?"
Carefully, Ragna deliberately examined Rachel's facial expression.
The elegant little girl swiped her bangs with her fingers and looked at a distance. It was difficult to look for her real motive and intention from her plain, expressionless face.
"I wonder that myself."
"Anyhow, you know it, don'tcha? Don't be such a stuck-up."
Unable to hide his irritation, Ragna drew closer. At that, Rachel's young eyes looked at him as she smiled.
"You are surprisingly desperate about it. What could be the reason?"
"Huh? I'm not talking about that right now."
"Do you feel bothered regarding the child that's about to become a sacrifice of the lynchpin? What a devotion."
Rachel's tone of voice which contained amazement had tiny thorns like what a rose had.
Ragna drew his eyebrows close. Her mocking attitude ticked his irritation.
"I said, it doesn't matter now!"
"Naturally, you should not exist in this period. Even without your doing anything, this period will turn history by its choices."
As If pouring cold water to the impatient Ragna, Rachel coldly told him. Her overseeing red pupils that were looking up at him made Ragna take a deep breath as he reflexively extinguished his vigor.
"...And yet, are you still denying it?"
The whisper penetrated the gap within his heart like it was nothing.
It was as if her eyes were testing him.
Ragna held his breath for a moment. He stared at the young vampire, challenging her.
"What can I do?"
There should be something. He recalled Clavis' words.
There must be a duty he had to accomplish in this period, guided by fate. He wasn't planning to feign romanticism, but presently, he couldn't help thinking as if those words were an undeniable truth.
And if the duty really existed... he felt that it would be now.
He wanted it to be now.
Dropping her cynical gaze from that sort of Ragna, Rachel's feet slowly hovered from the ground. She then nimbly approached the Cauldron.
"First, I will show you the possibility."
With the floating tiptoes facing the Boundary, Rachel stood as if she was a needle of a clock. She held her small hand above the swirling lava and looked down on it silently.
"This is the year of 2106 AD, the period which will be called as the Dark War by the life to come. It was the era when humanity had to confront a downfall crisis since the Black Beast had appeared from the Boundary."
Rachel's fingertip moved smoothly as if she were tracing something.
"Thus the time flowed, and it became 2200 AD, the time when you lived in. The Black Beast had been felled in the past, and it became the period when people were safe and prospering."
The black dress fluttered above the Cauldron. Rachel turned around to face Ragna.
Either the soaring magic or the wind she had manipulated made her golden hair and big ribbons sway.
"This is the tale of the beginning, Phase 0. No one is able to intervene with this tale. ...But for one thing, there is an exception for the existence that had slipped in. As an indispensable existence in this period, if that outsider comes into contact with the Black Beast, what do you think will happen?"
When that kind of situation really happened, what would occur? Nobody knew. Of course, so did Rachel.
Therefore, it was not an answer. It was no more than a possibility.
"You are not a person of this period. Therefore, it is fine for you to remain a spectator while the history is being drawn. You know that your intervention is unnecessary, yet you can still challenge it. ...The choice is yours to choose. However... please remember well the time when you received that sword."
While listening to Rachel's words, Ragna glanced around himself, as if pulling something to him. What he was staring at was the direction of the dark solid bedrock. What couldn't be seen from here was the hidden room where the lynchpin slept in.
What was there was the figure of a girl. It floated within his mind.
A girl who had never doubted people, and never considered the consequences. She helped a suspicious person who was collapsed and dying. She helped the wild animals which were attacked by him.
She said that she was searching for her father. She confidently bragged about her family members.
Indeed, it didn't mean that the family members' humanity wasn't questionable, but he felt that they were a great family.
To unhesitatingly call that family as her family with affection, he felt jealous about it.
"Aah, that's right."
Returning his gaze from the hidden room back to Rachel who was above the Cauldron, Ragna curled his lips into a fearless smile.
"No need to choose. You knew it even if I didn't say it, you wicked rabbit."
"As usual, your etiquette is unbecoming."
Retorting back with sarcasm thrown, Rachel dropped her gaze once again. The expression that floated on her for an instant resembled a pouting child displaying her disappointment.
As Ragna had said, she knew it from the beginning. And then...
"...And then I will only observe, as always."
She dropped to a faint murmur.
The choice that Ragna would choose when thinking about that single girl. Although she knew it without needing to hear it, it didn't feel interesting for a bit.
But she wasn't childish enough to be unhappy. Rachel had enigmatic light within her red pupils again. Slowly, her chin rose.
"...It seems I cannot stay for too long. It will arrive soon."
Like descending from a stage, Rachel got down from above the Cauldron to face Ragna.
The impression from the manner of her words made Ragna lower his eyebrows.
"Arrive? What will?"
"It will be clear before long."
With a graceful smile that was carved on the red lips, Rachel once again kicked the floor. Like flower petals dancing in the wind, she soared. She floated to the same place where she was in the beginning and looked down on Ragna.
"...Until the end, please do well to keep me entertained while I'm at my own place."
Shaking the halted time, a wind carrying rose fragrance danced. Taking along the fragrance that induced dizziness, the little figure of Rachel disappeared.
From the warm tea Trinity brewed, slightly thin white steam rose.
After she drank the tea that was poured into a small cup by half, Celica raised her hips after it had been sitting on the cold floor. She put the cup down.
Ahead of where her feet were facing was the Kushinada's Lynchpin. On its cold silver body there were green patterns engraved on it. Her palm touched and stroked it gently.
Near a wall bit away from her, Nine, who was still reluctant to drink her tea, quickly got on her feet.
"You know."
The agitated Mitsuyoshi had desired to activate the lynchpin right away. Toward the older sister who held back him back, she calmly began to talk.
"I love Onee-chan very much. ...I can't talk to him anymore, but I also love Father. Also to Mitsuyoshi-san and Trinity. Not to forget everyone in the Mage’s Guild and the neighbors who had helped me in the past. ...Ragna, too. I love them all."
Pulling the affections from the bottom of her heart, Celica talked as if she were speaking to the lynchpin. As her other hand accompanied the previous hand, her eyebrows drew close together.
"Not only humans. Also to the house where I live together with Onee-chan and the cake shop where I sometimes go out for tea to. Even if it's no longer a country, Japan is a special place. The seashore promenade where I talked together with Ragna was also a pretty place. The sky and the sea, too. I also love the trees, grass, and flowers very much. Even for the stray dogs which were living inside the forest with their might, I'd surely love them if we had been together."
What Celica was trying to say was somehow conveyed to Nine, Mitsuyoshi, and Trinity.
For Nine, her speech made her very unhappy. But she couldn't figure out a good way to interrupt Celica's voice that was really gentle.
As if humming a love song, Celica continued.
"As I thought, I don't want to get anyone hurt. I don't want everything that I love get wounded, even if it's only one of them. If I have a way that I can do to at least save many lives... I want to do it."
"Do you realize what you're saying?!"
Once it became unbearable, Nine spoke to shake it off.
"Once you become a part of that lump of metal, you'll be alone forever within the Boundary, which has no one there. However, your consciousness won't cease. With that condition, you will endlessly continue to feel your life being shaved away...!"
Even that was nothing but a guess. Nobody had done experimentation or anything resembling it. There might be a pain. It might be unbelievably painful. But when that time came, it would be completely impossible to stop it midway in order to free her.
"Once you assimilate with the lynchpin, you cannot return to your original form again. You will cease to be a human being. Come on, do you really understand it!?"
"I think I do."
Nine's desperation was futile as Celica easily nodded.
And then a bit of sadness clouded her eyes.
"...I'm sorry, Onee-chan. I'm sure Onee-chan is really sad."
"Of course I am..."
Nine's voice flickered. "How could this happen...?" said Nine as her lament resounded.
Presently, Nine's heart was drowning in regret. If only she didn't get moved by her younger sister's disobedience and bring her over to the First District, something like the Kushinada's Lynchpin wouldn't be noticed by anyone's eyes. No matter what happened, it wouldn't be noticed by Celica's eyes.
She would have been relieved even if she had to bring her back forcibly.
With her skirt's hem waved, Celica turned around. Leaning her back to the lynchpin, she faced her older sister. Her expression was a mess, she seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time.
"It's not that I'm not scared. While I'm hanging on, people around the world will get a full sleep and eat plenty of meals. I think it'll be good if everyone can have a lot of discussion and do their best together. ...If that's the case, even the Black Beast will surely be defeated."
It wasn't a prayer or a wish. Celica believed it.
If she could help to reach it, then it would be wonderful for Celica.
"That's why I want to activate Kushinada's Lynchpin."
"———I thought you'd say something like that."
Immediately after Celica nodded to assure herself, as if brushing away her words, an amazed sigh came at the same time with the voice.
Celica turned her head. She discovered Ragna at the room's entrance as he came back unnoticed. Her face became a bit awkward.
"If only you came back just a little later, I might have finished talking..."
"What? You can't finish it if I'm here?"
"That's not it. But if Ragna's nearby... My determination will grow dull."
As she complained by sighing, Celica revealed her real motive.
"You're surprisingly not that resolved, ain't you?"
"Ahaha. It will be lonely when I can't be together with Ragna."
Ragna's cheeks spontaneously slackened.
No matter how many times Celica thought about it, she herself must have beem troubled about the hard decision. An emotion welled up within Ragna's existence because she looked like a helplessly naïve girl.
Ragna walked to where Celica was.
While he was on his way, he pushed the listlessly standing Nine's shoulder, entrusting the girl with her head hung to Trinity.
As expected, the gigantic lynchpin looked quite majestic by looking at the proximity. With that sort of magnificent design, the atmosphere it put on was overwhelming. For that very reason, he couldn’t be certain if it was really created by the hands of man.
"Sorry for the determination you've built up, but it's already no use to talk about the Kushinada's Lynchpin."
While looking up at the lynchpin, Ragna spoke like it was nothing.
Since his tone was too light, Celica couldn't comprehend what he said right away.
"Huh...? Eh, wait, what? What do you mean?"
"Like I said, it's no use to talk about stopping the Black Beast using this stuff. And isn't it weird? Let's say you become a sacrifice and protect the world for the sake of people valuable to you. But on the other hand, will that really be a happy world for the people you feel important?"
Since the people she protected wouldn't actually be delighted with the peace, would it be meaningless? At the very least, Nine wouldn't welcome a future without Celica. With Celica already gone, perhaps peace wouldn't ever visit her.
Besides, at any rate, Celica wanted to smile in relief seeing the world she loved so much being peaceful.
Ragna began to speak as natural as possible.
"There's another way to stop the Black Beast. And we don't have to use Kushinada's Lynchpin."
"What's wrong all of a sudden? You found something outside?"
"Nah. ...I just remembered."
Ragna dodged the question from the dumbfounded Celica by scratching his head. He had found a way from his lost memory by chance. Since it was going to be complicated talking about his conversation with Rachel that was in front of the Cauldron, he wanted to leave it behind if he could.
"What's the other way?"
It seemed Celica was still not fully satisfied. With an examining gaze, she looked up at Ragna while she asked him.
"Aah... I can't tell too much of the details. Anyway, I just have to get close to the Black Beast."
He had no idea about what he should do specifically.
Just by being directly near the Black Beast, some kind of phenomenon should occur. After all, like the Black Beast, the Ragna in this period was an existence that had come from the Boundary.
But since his words were ambiguous, the anxious Celica looked up at him with her eyebrows raised up in a miserable look.
"Does that mean Ragna will become a sacrifice on my behalf?"
"Not like that. I'll charge in, and then get back. Only that."
He really didn't have the slightest idea of it, so he would just leave it at that.
But Celica's face grew more anxious. She took a step closer to Ragna and tightly gripped the sleeve of Ragna's jacket.
"You'll never be able to get close to the Black Beast! You won't leave unscathed... If you're careless...! "
He would die.
The Black Beast was a symbol of destruction. Those who approached it had been destroyed entirely.
"I'm fine. I'll do it properly. I don't want Ragna get exposed to danger again!"
"You're such an idiot."
Toward Celica who looked up at him as if she were clinging to him, Ragna lightly hit her head. A clunk noise could be heard.
"Ouch."
"I, Nine, and everyone else are all the same. Nobody feels like sacrificing you. That's why I came up with an alternate plan."
Compared to the Kushinada's Lynchpin Shuuichirou had left behind, the alternate plan felt uncertain as it had no theory backing on it. But if it went smoothly, it would be for the best. No, it had to go smoothly.
Squinting his dazed eye, Ragna looked at Celica. In fact, Celica was sparkling. She didn't have any ill will. She never learned about hostility. She didn't embrace malice. She was pure, foolish, and innocent. That was why...
"...I've got a younger brother and sister."
Ragna spoke with a whisper-like voice.
Every time he exchanged glance between Celica and Nine, some part in his head ached. After he remembered something, it became all the more painful.
"Both of them said they love me. There was a time when I thought they were troublesome. But just like you to your big sis, they're still important to me. ...But I couldn't protect them."
As if he chewed on it, a bitter taste spread within his mouth. He recalled it clearly. It was a memory of a beginning that shouldn't be forgotten.
"So that's why, let me protect you this time."
He wanted to believe that he had enough strength to protect the people he wished to protect. He was different from his absolutely powerless self during that time. What would be the consequence was less important.
He had enough of getting down on his knees, unable to do anything.
Ragna put his hand on Celica's head.
"One other thing. You take it lightly, but losing the brother and sister you're supposed to protect is pretty hard. Something like bond that's left within yourself will pull you apart forever."
"..."
Just as her pupils became wet, Celica saw her older sister.
Cuddling close together with Trinity, Nine motionlessly watched over Celica and Ragna's conversation.
She was a big sister who always looked dignified, powerful, attractive, strong-willed while also beautiful. But only now her shoulders looked thin. Moreover, the girl appeared to be fragile.
"Celica, didn't you also say it back then? If you have a power to do something, then you'll use it protect... And so am I. I want you to smile."
"I also..."
Since her throat chocked, Celica strained it to bring her voice out.
"I also want Ragna to smile."
"Then it's decided. I'll do something to that monster. And since I'll return later, everything will be settled, won't it?"
"Ragna..."
Transparent drops of water floated on Celica's big eyes.
But Ragna ruffled Celica's head and disturbed her hair. Wiping the drops from the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, Celica did a big nod with a cheerful smile that was similar to the time when he first saw it.
By the time the conversation came to an end, it was already late. The surface was completely confined in the dead of night.
As Japan was a land without people inhabiting it, naturally, there wouldn't be a place to rent or lights to illuminate the street at night. Taking that into consideration, they were going to pass the time until dawn in the underground research facility as it felt rather accommodating.
Though, there wasn't anything that could substitute a futon. Because of it, if they spread their mantles and jackets on the usual hidden room's floor, they should have been able to sleep.
Inside the room, Trinity again brewed new tea. After Ragna refused it, he went out of the room to stroll a bit.
Even if he said he wanted to stroll around, the place where he was going was a hall with the Cauldron's surroundings stretched. Close to the mortar-shaped cave, there was a thin, dull staircase that went on for a distance.
Ragna stood near the Cauldron again, inevitably with no light above him. This time he wasn't searching for Rachel, but to take a peek of its contents.
"Boundary, eh...?"
He muttered for some reason. He couldn't even guess what on earth the Boundary was or where it connected to. It was unthinkable to drown anyone inside it.
If... assuming that nothing would happen when Ragna approached the Black Beast, would Celica make use of that lynchpin?
He didn't want to consider it. But even if by any chance he wasn't successful, he would rather have to choose an even more different alternative than having the lynchpin as the last resort.
"Eh, I'll just do something and it should be over in no sweat..."
Then, she was there.
"Do you have a moment?"
With a distinct voice, Nine spoke to him.
In contrast with her tone that felt really strong-willed, her constantly sharp, intimidating gaze was wandering around as if searching for something.
"I believe I have something I've yet to say."
"About what?"
"...About Celica. Thank you for stopping her wish."
She muttered while standing alone.
Ragna spontaneously grinned. It felt creepy.
"That's so unlike you."
"Oh, shut up. Even I want to express my gratitude properly for once. Especially... since this time I thought it was already hopeless."
While she rapidly told her reply, Nine brushed up her hair in her annoyance.
"Back then, that child never listened whenever she was reminded. She went out alone even when I had warned her so many times. Although I wanted her to do what I told her, in the end, it became just like that in spite of everything."
Looking at today's case of searching her father, he understood enough of it. "She's an astonishing girl," said Nine as she also gazed at the Cauldron from beside Ragna.
"I wonder why she listens if it's coming from you. It makes me sick."
"Hell if I know."
Ragna shrugged his shoulders. Nine boringly looked at that gesture with a sidelong glance and dropped her shoulders with a sigh.
"...It's going to be okay, right?"
"Ah?"
"The 'alternate plan' you said. Can it really able to constrain the Black Beast?"
"Maybe."
Unsatisfied with Ragna's answer, Nine expression grew bitter.
"You're not confident?"
"Not that, or else I wouldn't say it. But..."
Suddenly, Ragna intensely frowned while glaring at the Boundary. He was reminded of the history of the Dark War that was commonly known when he was a child.
"If it turns out well, I've got a favor to ask you."
"Me?"
Ragna knew something that no one else knew. Nine and Mitsuyoshi, who probably changed his name to Jubei for some reason, would defeat Black Beast. Furthermore, the Six Heroes named Nine had one more accomplishment.
"The Black Beast will be stopped of its activities for maybe a year."
This time, it was Nine who frowned after Ragna distinctly told his statement.
"How do you know about that?"
"Many reasons. I've got my own circumstances too, y'know?"
As one would expect, saying he came from the future would made it too suspicious. Hence he decided to pass on it. He didn't have anything to say to make up for it, so Ragna turned around his whole body to face Nine.
As if she was lured in, Nine also changed the direction of her body.
"One year. During that time, get the strength needed for humanity to battle the Black Beast. A further delay probably isn't gonna happen."
The green eye that was only on his left side was reflecting the color of the Boundary's lava. Receiving the heavy, straightforward gaze that had agony in it, Nine slowly nodded as if she gulped.
"One year, eh. Okay."
"And one more thing. ...Watch out for the guy named Yuuki Terumi."
"Yuuki Terumi? Who's he?"
Puzzled, Nine's eyebrows drew closer. Ragna lightly shook his head.
"I also don't know in details, but..."
"...You have a reason, huh? Fine, I give my promise to both."
As if burning, the strong light of Nine's determination was brimming in her pupils. Since it looked surprisingly trustworthy, Ragna sighed in relief, together with a smile.
Instead, Nine quickly continued on.
"You, too. Do your best in trying not to make what you've said just now as your last wish. If you make Celica cry, I won't forgive you."
"O-okay."
The threatening tone of voice she had used was as if to say that she would kill him the moment he made her cry.
Somewhat backing out, Ragna greatly pulled his chin. He believed that about half of it came from his reflexes.
"...Hm?"
Suddenly, Nine grimaced. Not at Ragna, but something else. She kept an eye on the vicinity.
The atmosphere surrounding her went sharp.
"Nine?"
"Be quiet. I'm detecting... something."
As Ragna's wariness switch also turned on, he examined the surroundings. He didn't grasp what Nine was talking about.
Thanks to magic, Nine's current perception was upped to about the double of a normal person's. That's right. Just about as high as a beastkin's.
Mitsuyoshi rushed out in a hurry from the passage leading to the hidden room.
"Ragna! Nine!"
No sooner than when he discovered them, he raised his voice that had also been exposed to wariness.
It was an unusual situation. Urged by Nine's gaze, Ragna hurriedly rushed over together with her to where Mitsuyoshi was.
"What's wrong? Something happened?"
"Yeah. I dunno exactly what... A terrible an' awful presence's gettin' closer. Also, it's doin' it with an unusual speed."
"Terrible and awful...?"
As it was too vague, Ragna's thoughts merged to do his best to imagine something horrible.
For example, a black mist———.
"Everyone! Come here!"
This time, Celica hurriedly called them from the room's entrance.
Ragna and the others went back as if striving to be the first.
Within the elliptical-shaped room with a part of its ceiling hollowed, Trinity was overcome with surprise while she was in front of a magic circle that emerged on the floor. From the magic circle, a thin veil-like light was shining in the shape of upside-down cone. The spectacle above the ground was projected on it.
"Everyone, look..."
Although the floating image in the magic circle was pale, Trinity was adjusting it. Everybody lined up beside her.
The scene they were seeing was dark. It was natural since it was night.
No, that was wrong.
"This is...!"
Ragna gasped. It wasn't dark because it was night. The screen was gradually dyed in black. From the ground, an object of black mist fiercely gushed out and enshrouded the vicinity.
This kind of scene had had been witnessed. It wasn't only for Ragna, but also Celica and Mitsuyoshi. It was during the appearance of the lump of mist they had encountered in a research facility they had visited first when searching for Shuuichirou.
However, the scale didn't match to the one at that time.
"It can't be...!?"
Bewildered, Mitsuyoshi groaned in a hoarse voice. His two tails were seemingly appeared thickly swollen.
The mist in the image which Trinity projected became denser and denser as it gathered. Before long, it became an enormous lump and overcrowded the image.
As the discharged magic became disturbed, the image then vanished.
But there was no need to do it again to get a confirmation.
"———It's the Black Beast."
It was not a remnant.
A sinister sound was heard far away at the surface.
All of them unconsciously directed their gaze to the ceiling.
Accompanied by an enormous quantity of seithr mass, the Black Beast was... facing this way.
Rushing out to the Cauldron hall again, Ragna looked up at the lid-like opening that should be far away above his head.
The fact that it was far and that the area of the Cauldron's vicinity was brighter somehow made it hard to see the opening. Only a widespread of deep darkness could be seen.
Still, when he properly adjusted his eye, the enveloping darkness above him gradually dissolved at a fast rate. What should have been able to be seen that was covered by light became clear.
There was no room for doubt.
It was during the moment they thought so. On a part of the hall far away from where Ragna's group at, illuminated by the lights that came from the Cauldron, a noise that was like a gushing steam began to reverberate.
What had been spewing was black mist.
"It's coming...!"
Nine put herself on guard. Magic was swirling around her.
While stretching out his sensitivity at his surroundings, Ragna shook his head as lightly as he could.
"No, it's impossible. Run."
When he muttered, sweat ran down on his back. His throat went dry at the unusual tension.
Nine snapped at the withdrawing figure.
"Huh? What do you mean by running away!?"
"No time for complaining. Nine, can you do teleportation?"
"Wh... Kuh, teleportation? It's not that I can't. Something that easy..."
Ragna's low but strong tone of voice seemed authoritative. It made Nine slightly flinch when she replied. Why did she have to be ordered by Ragna? It made her disgruntled. But now wasn't the situation to fuss over such a trivial thing.
"If you can, then get ready to start it up. And get away as far as you can from here."
"Ragna, do you intend to remain alone!?"
The one who raised her voice was Celica, telling him not to say such a ridiculous thing. She ran and snatched Ragna's sleeve.
"Your opponent is the Black Beast, you know. I can't leave you here alone while you're facing it!"
"She's right. Besides, I want to fight, too. I can assist you from behind."
Nine displayed her objection within her aggressive stare. Following her, even Trinity leaned her body forward.
"Me, too. I'm ready to help you with protective magic. It is reckless to face it alone."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'll be troubled if you stay here. I don't know what will happen once I collide with the Black Beast. Worst case scenario, you all might get dragged up."
In a different place, mist began to gushing out again. Two, three of other places followed suit.
Stepping back a bit, Ragna turned his face toward Nine as if telling her to hurry.
"Get on your feet! You all got mountain loads of things to do after this! If you get hurt, time will just get wasted! It'll get you in trouble!"
Nine's body stiffened. Ragna truly believed that he would create a gap of one year. No, he most likely would create it.
Nine had to use every bit of that time for the sake of suppressing the Black Beast.
Although her face looked frustrated, Nine bit her lips while she withdrew.
"Everyone, don't leave my side."
Annoyed and frustrated, Nine started focusing her consciousness. Not to strike Black Beast or its remnants, but to connect her consciousness to a place that wasn't here, crossing over airspace.
Nine's long hair fluttered. She started to be covered with a fascinating light.
Mitsuyoshi took a several large steps as if he was getting away from there.
"I'll stay."
"Hey! Bastard, did you listen to me!?"
Upset, Ragna yelled rudely at Mitsuyoshi who nimbly unsheathed his sword.
"My ears still work fine. But unlike the young lady, I can do nothin' but wield my sword. Although ye said the Black Beast's action would stop, I feel that it needs to happen as soon as possible."
Mitsuyoshi grinned. A smile was formed on the cat's mouth. His triangular ears were twitching.
"Though I might seem stubborn, I got confidence in myself. After all, ye won't reach its real body if yer careless. Just think of me as a firearm that's clearin' away the remnants in yer way."
Ragna clicked his tongue. But he was actually grateful for Mitsuyoshi's offer.
After he barely arrived in front of the real body, it was meaningless to crush the remnants that were around there.
There was nothing more reliable than having the competent Mitsuyoshi shaking off the remnants since he would just get overwhelmed.
"...Then, I'll be relying on you."
Behind Ragna and Mitsuyoshi, Nine's magic circle had its brilliance increasing.
"Then, we'll go on ahead. I'll leave this place to you two."
Nine spoke while she was on the center of the circle.
A faint sparkle was fired from Trinity's fingertip. It vanished after it wrapped Ragna and Mitsuyoshi.
"It's a protective magic that doesn't need to be controlled~. It should guard you against any physical impact."
"Thanks for the help."
Ragna raised the corner of his lips as he smiled. Trinity deeply bowed her head.
From beside her, Celica suddenly ran.
"Ragna!"
She rushed over and dived into his arms. Both of her hands were holding on Ragna's jacket tightly. Rather than clinging to him, it was more like she hugged him close.
"Wh... Idiot! Get back to the magic circle quickly!"
"You said you'll return. You'll really come back, right?"
Celica looked up at Ragna, demanding an explanation.
Looking down on her large eyes, Ragna felt an excessive strain come out from his body.
It felt nostalgic. Come to think of it, back when he met Celica for the first time, he felt familiar with the girl's gaze and her gentle expression.
Perhaps, it was possible that he had met her somewhere in the future period. If so, it was a wonder.
"Yeah. I promise."
Ragna smiled bitterly. He answered with a voice that had no hesitation in it.
It was a lie. He shouldn't be able to keep such promises. The opponent was the Black Beast. He mocked himself over the fact that he would definitely die. His cowardly self couldn't help but made its complaints be heard.
However, he didn't want to say the truth here.
It was fine, even if it was a lie. If he didn't promise to come back safely, he had a bad feeling that his feet would get dragged to something and he really would die.
Ragna took off the red jacket he had been wearing and gave it to Celica.
"Hold it for me. I'll return and pick it up."
Celica stared at Ragna for a while. Hugging the given jacket close to her, she then smiled as bright as the sun.
"...Okay, I understand. I'll trust you."
It was a lie. She shouldn't be able to believe him. She had a feeling that they wouldn't be able to meet again. That sad thought accumulated in her chest and made her suffocate.
But at the same time, she also felt that Ragna would return. Without any ground whatsoever, she truly believed it without a doubt. Celica supported herself with only that thought.
While holding Ragna's jacket in her arms, Celica slightly stood on her tiptoes.
Maybe it was the aftereffect of the fight between Nine and Mitsuyoshi as there was a small scratch on Ragna's cheek.
There, as if touching it gently, she gave it a kiss. The small wound recovered and vanished without a trace.
"You promised! I'll be waiting for Ragna to come back together with Mitsuyoshi-san!"
With her long hair and skirt lightly fluttered, Celica ran back to her sister's magic circle.
She furiously waved her hand to the dumbfounded Ragna.
Right after Celica's smile bloomed like a flower, the girls disappeared from that place.
As the flowers left, what had been delayed of its arrival was darkness.
The surroundings were bustling as a considerable number of holes where mist gushed out increased again and again.
Ragna and Mitsuyoshi dashed toward the middle of the hall with their respective weapon in hand.
Along the way, their pace was thrown out of order as there were some fragments of the mist. As if it was their everyday duty, they nonchalantly cleared them by decapitation, scattering them away.
After they had secured the space needed to fight, from the sky, a black lump descended with the force as if a giant sandbag had fell down.
If there were some names that could be used to address those noises, it would be nice.
It was too much of a darkness.
Countless extending, long necks which resembled serpents were rising slowly. The hall around the Cauldron that felt spacious was not enough as it ran out of space, covered by shadow. It was like the hall was engulfed. No, just by looking up at that irrationally gigantic body, it undoubtedly made them taste the sensation of being swallowed.
"Ha...haha. This guy's no joke."
Ragna laughed involuntarily. That voice sounded ridiculously feeble even to him.
From far away above his head, gigantic red eyes of the gigantic necks were looking down at their way, as if they were glaring.
Despair was leaning forward.
"...This is...the Black... Beast."
Scraping dusts, Mitsuyoshi's feet took a step back. He set up his sword and claws firmly. However, the tip of the sword was trembling as he was unable to conceal it.
"It's... it's impossible. This ain't something that can be easily handled by a man's hands."
Even if he made himself not think such a pathetic thought, his instinct screamed warnings.
No matter how he thought, it wasn't something someone could compete with.
His body stiffened, his feet paralyzed.
Before he knew it, he had withdrawn for quite a significant distance. Ragna's back appeared ahead of his line of sight.
With that kind of back, Ragna gave a glance as he looked over his shoulder.
"Get a hold of yourself. You're strong. So strong that someone like me is no match for you."
That belief didn't come from just one time when they crossed their swords. Mitsuyoshi probably would be Ragna's master in the period to come. His master was one of the Six Heroes that once had killed the Black Beast. He wouldn't be defeated here. He shouldn't be defeated.
Ragna fearlessly raised his lips.
"Something ridiculous beyond imagination has appeared... But it's too late to quit now. We got no choice but to do this, right?"
Bring it on, he thought. Probably the conquered fear had turned into thrilling motivation that ran down his spine.
Ragna tightly gripped his sword with both of his hands.
"Hey, Ragna."
Looking at Ragna who glanced back at the Black Beast again, Mitsuyoshi opened his mouth for a question.
"Couldn't you not move yer right arm?"
He was right. Indeed, just a while ago, only numbness could be felt on Ragna's right arm which was dangling heavily. But amazingly, now it moved. The discomforts he felt until now were like lies since it felt rather light.
"I don't really get it, but it somehow works."
It was also the same for the right eye that shouldn't be able to see. As the eyelid lifted up, his vision had regained back its original range for the first in a long time. It was now reflecting a terrifying mass of shadow.
Suddenly, it was twitching only for his right eye. His right arm throbbed at the same time.
It was only for a moment. There was no pain. Perhaps, it was rather close to a pleasuring shiver. As if something identical with their nature had melt together and made a connection.
(Aah, I get it... If so, then that might be the reason.)
As the reason had come down on him, Ragna grinned.
He remembered on why his right arm and right eye couldn't do anything.
———The Azure Grimoire.
He didn't know the exact concept of what kind of object that was, but it was probably something related to the Boundary, possibly the seithr.
However, their actions had been severely restrained because of something. Just like when the lynchpin was used according to Shuuichirou Ayatsuki's research.
It was probably because of Celica.
While the girl possessed a special healing power, at the same time, she also could hold back seithr's activity. Her restraining ability grew stronger as the seithr's scale grew larger. Because of Celica's influence, Ragna's right arm was temporarily suspended of any action.
"I thought it was because I've come to the past, but looks like that isn't the case. What the hell? Just tell me so if it's like that."
While muttering his complaint to himself, Ragna firmly gripped his right hand. The distinct sensation he hadn't felt for a while made a deep smile came upon him.
With this, he would be able to somehow manage even if the opponent was Black Beast.
Ragna once again raised his eyes on the dark mass in front of his eyes. The more one looked at it, the more outrageous it was.
The numerous necks could easily crush the likes of Ragna in one strike. They swayed as if putting themselves on guard.
"Until the end, I'm a human. I'll fight as a human being. What are you going to do?"
Ragna asked Mitsuyoshi. This time, Ragna didn't turn his head as his back faced Mitsuyoshi.
Mitsuyoshi took a deep breath and prepared his claws and sword once again.
"Just like ye said, we can't quit anymore..."
It wasn't to drive away his fear, but Mitsuyoshi was fully determined. Alone, Ragna was planning to attack the Black Beast's real body. Before him, Mitsuyoshi couldn't let himself alone to be seized with fear.
"Good. Then Mitsuyoshi, once I jumped on that guy, quickly retreat."
"Wh-!? Don't joke around, I...!"
He stayed in order to support Ragna. There was no way he could run away despite being told so.
But as if brushing away Mitsuyoshi's words, Ragna spoke.
"You still got a life to live."
That voice felt too heavy, and also sincere. Mitsuyoshi involuntarily swallowed his objection.
The truth was, Mitsuyoshi had a lot to say. Like, 'how could he run while the enemy was in front of him?'. Like, 'what are you going to do?'. ...Like, 'didn't you promise to come back to Celica?'.
But what made him unable to speak of them was because he completely understood that Ragna was personally prepared for it.
Instead, Mitsuyoshi went next to Ragna once more to stand beside him and asked something.
"Let me hear yer name."
"Huh? But I've given my name already."
"Ya got yer memory back, didn'tcha? What I want to know is yer true name."
Ragna wryly smiled. The name 'Ragna' Mitsuyoshi called him with wasn't a fake. On the other hand, Ragna didn't have a family name that indicated his origin.
That's why, this name should be the answer for his question.
"Bloodedge. It's Ragna the Bloodedge."
"...I'll remember it."
Nodding in his satisfaction, Mitsuyoshi displayed a smile in only an instant.
"Okay, let's go!"
"Leave the remnants to me."
As he heard Mitsuyoshi's reliable words, Ragna set his body low and broke into a run, dragging his sword.
In a straight line, he went toward the Black Beast.
The small black mists which had been blocking his way were scattered as the flying around gale from Mitsuyoshi sliced them off.
As expected of his arm. It would never yield.
"Restriction 666 released!"
As he recited the words that were engraved in his mind and body, the bandage, which was wrapped on Ragna's right arm, forcefully burst open. What appeared was not a human arm. It was as if it was created from hardened darkness. It was a black and sinister big arm.
Noticing it, Mitsuyoshi flinched for a moment with his movement stiffened as he found out about it.
Despite everything, he ran, preparing the jet black arm.
"Dimensional Interference Field deployed!"
As he said the words, countless red lines ran down Ragna's arm. He felt a great deal of power that could crush anything.
"BlazBlue, Activate!"
The round orb in the back of his arm flickered as if it was blinking. The Azure had awakened. Clad in the flickering Azure, his fingers' form were transformed.
What was before his eyes was a dreadful giant mass of darkness. Countless necks tried to seize Ragna all at once.
He spontaneously smiled.
"HERE WE GO, YOU GIGANTIC ASSHOLE!!"
After he roared, Ragna kicked the earth, cleared away the rising mist, and charged in toward the Black Beast.
Mitsuyoshi's shout that could be heard calling his name.
The somewhat cold Cauldron's heat that had become distant.
The bright red color of the flames.
Anything and everything was eroded by black shadow.
The Black Beast raised its countless crooked necks like a wave. And then, it swallowed Ragna altogether.
As night dawned, morning came.
With morning passed and became noon, it would be night again.
After the night ended once more, the day would flow again and became night.
Celica quickly jumped on her feet at the modest sounds of door being knocked.
The person who knocked was Valkenhayn.
This place was the castle of the Alucard family which had Rachel Alucard as the new family head.
Celica was in the guest room.
After she heard the notice from Valkenhayn, Celica's expression bloomed, and then it got clouded as she ran on the hallway.
Running down the long stairs, she arrived on the first floor. She then ran with all her might from the entranceway to the parlor.
"Haah... haah... hah... Mitsuyoshi... san."
The notice Valkenhayn had reported to Celica was the return of Mitsuyoshi.
Sitting on the luxurious sofa in the parlor, Mitsuyoshi had wounds all over his body. Everywhere, dry blood stuck on his abundant fur and made it hard. Wounds covered all over him up to his long, flexible tails.
Falling behind Celica, Nine and Trinity finally arrived. Seeing Mitsuyoshi, both of them opened their eyes wide in surprise at his state.
He didn't appear to have the stamina to raise his body. Despite all that, with a firm expression, Mitsuyoshi turned to the direction opposite of him. Instead of lying down, he kept on sitting.
He seemed to be either exhausted, drowning in relief, or disciplining himself.
A large sword was held in his arm.
The so-called sword had a wide blade... the characteristic of Ragna's sword.
Celica hurriedly went to Mitsuyoshi's side and performed healing magic. However, the healed wounds were so small. Only grazes and cuts had received healing.
"...Sorry."
Suddenly, Mitsuyoshi talked.
A trembling, worn-out voice that could snap anytime. As if to get rid of it, Mitsuyoshi squeezed out his hoarse voice.
"Ragna charged at the Black Beast. Countless necks that were like snake's head bit 'im all at once... swallowed 'im. ...Black Beast's activity then came to a stop. After that, it disappeared, along with Ragna."
With pauses in-between, Mitsuyoshi spoke while he looked for words to use.
"What's left is this."
He clumsily moved his arm to give the sword he had been holding firmly to Celica.
Something black was sticking on the sword. It was unknown whether if it was the Black Beast's blood, Ragna's blood, or something entirely different.
"Sorry. ...I shouldn't have come back with just this."
"...It's okay."
Toward Mitsuyoshi's apology that seemed as his thought splitting up his chest, Celica lightly shook her head.
"I'm happy that you came back. ...Thank you, Mitsuyoshi-san."
With a compassionate smile, Celica wiped Mitsuyoshi's wet eyes and hugged the sword she had received with care.
Deep underground, the Cauldron with its mouth opened had its somewhat cool heat drifting upward. Presently, an unexpectedly solemn mood enveloped it.
Even if the illuminations from the connected metals the people had especially made weren't turned on, the overwhelming red flame was enough to get a good view.
Just how deep was the Sheol Gate burrowed within it?
With the flame being projected around the vicinity of his vision, Ragna stopped the feet that had been slowly moving forward.
He looked around. Looking for the owner of the voice from before.
He knew whose voice it was. A sweet voice with youth and bewitchment mixed in.
"You're here, right...? Rachel!"
Ragna's voice vanished as it was absorbed by the tall ceilings. An existence that had surpassed mankind was looking down from somewhere, probably digging up for some entertainment.
As the air flowed, a sweet aroma tickled Ragna's nose. It was the fragrance of roses.
Ragna looked over his shoulder with his mouth distorted. His sharp canines stood out like bare fangs.
"There, huh? Don't look down on people."
On a part of bare bedrock with the wallboards peeled off, as if she was sitting, she had her small legs crossed. A young girl clad in a black dress was floating.
"It has been a long time."
With an innocent voice, she smiled. The young girl was surrounded by winds that had a rose fragrance. Then she elegantly stood up.
The Cauldron's illumination, enriched with bright-red light, carved a shadow from the young girl's ribbons. The silhouette looked like a rabbit.
Ragna felt that something was out of place in her appearance.
2106 AD. The Rachel Alucard in this period should have still been a child and not yet acquainted with Ragna. But young appearance or not, did she have an unusual air of a know-it-all like the Rachel Alucard who stood before Ragna now had?
"Fufu," said her as a fingertip touched her small lips. Rachel had revealed a grown-up laughter that felt inappropriate.
"You are such a fool. Where do you think we are? ...We are currently near the Boundary."
With just that, she spoke as if it contained all the reasons for it. But surely it wasn't convincing enough for him.
This location was closer to the Boundary compared to any other place.
As if dragging out Ragna's lost memories, Rachel's existence must have made all information he had obtained flowing into him again.
Basically, the 'Rachel' Ragna was confronting now was the 'Rachel' from his period. She was the same as the one in the information which his memories carried.
"What kind of business bothered you to call me? You know this already, but I'm kinda busy right now."
"Of course. I'm confident that it's about Kushinada's Lynchpin. The mankind in this era certainly created something intriguing."
"You saw everything, huh?"
She probably watched the arguing when Shuuichirou Ayatsuki passed away and the encounter with Hakumen before it. It didn't feel too nice being constantly monitored from somewhere.
"Good timing. Since you're the Rachel Alucard I know, I got something for you to hear."
Her bright red eyes urged him to proceed.
"During the Dark War, there should have been a time when the Black Beast didn't appear for about a year."
If Ragna's knowledge wasn't wrong, it was in 2107 AD. Just in a year, humanity had been given a recess.
"Was that... the Kushinada's Lynchpin's doing?"
Carefully, Ragna deliberately examined Rachel's facial expression.
The elegant little girl swiped her bangs with her fingers and looked at a distance. It was difficult to look for her real motive and intention from her plain, expressionless face.
"I wonder that myself."
"Anyhow, you know it, don'tcha? Don't be such a stuck-up."
Unable to hide his irritation, Ragna drew closer. At that, Rachel's young eyes looked at him as she smiled.
"You are surprisingly desperate about it. What could be the reason?"
"Huh? I'm not talking about that right now."
"Do you feel bothered regarding the child that's about to become a sacrifice of the lynchpin? What a devotion."
Rachel's tone of voice which contained amazement had tiny thorns like what a rose had.
Ragna drew his eyebrows close. Her mocking attitude ticked his irritation.
"I said, it doesn't matter now!"
"Naturally, you should not exist in this period. Even without your doing anything, this period will turn history by its choices."
As If pouring cold water to the impatient Ragna, Rachel coldly told him. Her overseeing red pupils that were looking up at him made Ragna take a deep breath as he reflexively extinguished his vigor.
"...And yet, are you still denying it?"
The whisper penetrated the gap within his heart like it was nothing.
It was as if her eyes were testing him.
Ragna held his breath for a moment. He stared at the young vampire, challenging her.
"What can I do?"
There should be something. He recalled Clavis' words.
There must be a duty he had to accomplish in this period, guided by fate. He wasn't planning to feign romanticism, but presently, he couldn't help thinking as if those words were an undeniable truth.
And if the duty really existed... he felt that it would be now.
He wanted it to be now.
Dropping her cynical gaze from that sort of Ragna, Rachel's feet slowly hovered from the ground. She then nimbly approached the Cauldron.
"First, I will show you the possibility."
With the floating tiptoes facing the Boundary, Rachel stood as if she was a needle of a clock. She held her small hand above the swirling lava and looked down on it silently.
"This is the year of 2106 AD, the period which will be called as the Dark War by the life to come. It was the era when humanity had to confront a downfall crisis since the Black Beast had appeared from the Boundary."
Rachel's fingertip moved smoothly as if she were tracing something.
"Thus the time flowed, and it became 2200 AD, the time when you lived in. The Black Beast had been felled in the past, and it became the period when people were safe and prospering."
The black dress fluttered above the Cauldron. Rachel turned around to face Ragna.
Either the soaring magic or the wind she had manipulated made her golden hair and big ribbons sway.
"This is the tale of the beginning, Phase 0. No one is able to intervene with this tale. ...But for one thing, there is an exception for the existence that had slipped in. As an indispensable existence in this period, if that outsider comes into contact with the Black Beast, what do you think will happen?"
When that kind of situation really happened, what would occur? Nobody knew. Of course, so did Rachel.
Therefore, it was not an answer. It was no more than a possibility.
"You are not a person of this period. Therefore, it is fine for you to remain a spectator while the history is being drawn. You know that your intervention is unnecessary, yet you can still challenge it. ...The choice is yours to choose. However... please remember well the time when you received that sword."
While listening to Rachel's words, Ragna glanced around himself, as if pulling something to him. What he was staring at was the direction of the dark solid bedrock. What couldn't be seen from here was the hidden room where the lynchpin slept in.
What was there was the figure of a girl. It floated within his mind.
A girl who had never doubted people, and never considered the consequences. She helped a suspicious person who was collapsed and dying. She helped the wild animals which were attacked by him.
She said that she was searching for her father. She confidently bragged about her family members.
Indeed, it didn't mean that the family members' humanity wasn't questionable, but he felt that they were a great family.
To unhesitatingly call that family as her family with affection, he felt jealous about it.
"Aah, that's right."
Returning his gaze from the hidden room back to Rachel who was above the Cauldron, Ragna curled his lips into a fearless smile.
"No need to choose. You knew it even if I didn't say it, you wicked rabbit."
"As usual, your etiquette is unbecoming."
Retorting back with sarcasm thrown, Rachel dropped her gaze once again. The expression that floated on her for an instant resembled a pouting child displaying her disappointment.
As Ragna had said, she knew it from the beginning. And then...
"...And then I will only observe, as always."
She dropped to a faint murmur.
The choice that Ragna would choose when thinking about that single girl. Although she knew it without needing to hear it, it didn't feel interesting for a bit.
But she wasn't childish enough to be unhappy. Rachel had enigmatic light within her red pupils again. Slowly, her chin rose.
"...It seems I cannot stay for too long. It will arrive soon."
Like descending from a stage, Rachel got down from above the Cauldron to face Ragna.
The impression from the manner of her words made Ragna lower his eyebrows.
"Arrive? What will?"
"It will be clear before long."
With a graceful smile that was carved on the red lips, Rachel once again kicked the floor. Like flower petals dancing in the wind, she soared. She floated to the same place where she was in the beginning and looked down on Ragna.
"...Until the end, please do well to keep me entertained while I'm at my own place."
Shaking the halted time, a wind carrying rose fragrance danced. Taking along the fragrance that induced dizziness, the little figure of Rachel disappeared.
From the warm tea Trinity brewed, slightly thin white steam rose.
After she drank the tea that was poured into a small cup by half, Celica raised her hips after it had been sitting on the cold floor. She put the cup down.
Ahead of where her feet were facing was the Kushinada's Lynchpin. On its cold silver body there were green patterns engraved on it. Her palm touched and stroked it gently.
Near a wall bit away from her, Nine, who was still reluctant to drink her tea, quickly got on her feet.
"You know."
The agitated Mitsuyoshi had desired to activate the lynchpin right away. Toward the older sister who held back him back, she calmly began to talk.
"I love Onee-chan very much. ...I can't talk to him anymore, but I also love Father. Also to Mitsuyoshi-san and Trinity. Not to forget everyone in the Mage’s Guild and the neighbors who had helped me in the past. ...Ragna, too. I love them all."
Pulling the affections from the bottom of her heart, Celica talked as if she were speaking to the lynchpin. As her other hand accompanied the previous hand, her eyebrows drew close together.
"Not only humans. Also to the house where I live together with Onee-chan and the cake shop where I sometimes go out for tea to. Even if it's no longer a country, Japan is a special place. The seashore promenade where I talked together with Ragna was also a pretty place. The sky and the sea, too. I also love the trees, grass, and flowers very much. Even for the stray dogs which were living inside the forest with their might, I'd surely love them if we had been together."
What Celica was trying to say was somehow conveyed to Nine, Mitsuyoshi, and Trinity.
For Nine, her speech made her very unhappy. But she couldn't figure out a good way to interrupt Celica's voice that was really gentle.
As if humming a love song, Celica continued.
"As I thought, I don't want to get anyone hurt. I don't want everything that I love get wounded, even if it's only one of them. If I have a way that I can do to at least save many lives... I want to do it."
"Do you realize what you're saying?!"
Once it became unbearable, Nine spoke to shake it off.
"Once you become a part of that lump of metal, you'll be alone forever within the Boundary, which has no one there. However, your consciousness won't cease. With that condition, you will endlessly continue to feel your life being shaved away...!"
Even that was nothing but a guess. Nobody had done experimentation or anything resembling it. There might be a pain. It might be unbelievably painful. But when that time came, it would be completely impossible to stop it midway in order to free her.
"Once you assimilate with the lynchpin, you cannot return to your original form again. You will cease to be a human being. Come on, do you really understand it!?"
"I think I do."
Nine's desperation was futile as Celica easily nodded.
And then a bit of sadness clouded her eyes.
"...I'm sorry, Onee-chan. I'm sure Onee-chan is really sad."
"Of course I am..."
Nine's voice flickered. "How could this happen...?" said Nine as her lament resounded.
Presently, Nine's heart was drowning in regret. If only she didn't get moved by her younger sister's disobedience and bring her over to the First District, something like the Kushinada's Lynchpin wouldn't be noticed by anyone's eyes. No matter what happened, it wouldn't be noticed by Celica's eyes.
She would have been relieved even if she had to bring her back forcibly.
With her skirt's hem waved, Celica turned around. Leaning her back to the lynchpin, she faced her older sister. Her expression was a mess, she seemed to be laughing and crying at the same time.
"It's not that I'm not scared. While I'm hanging on, people around the world will get a full sleep and eat plenty of meals. I think it'll be good if everyone can have a lot of discussion and do their best together. ...If that's the case, even the Black Beast will surely be defeated."
It wasn't a prayer or a wish. Celica believed it.
If she could help to reach it, then it would be wonderful for Celica.
"That's why I want to activate Kushinada's Lynchpin."
"———I thought you'd say something like that."
Immediately after Celica nodded to assure herself, as if brushing away her words, an amazed sigh came at the same time with the voice.
Celica turned her head. She discovered Ragna at the room's entrance as he came back unnoticed. Her face became a bit awkward.
"If only you came back just a little later, I might have finished talking..."
"What? You can't finish it if I'm here?"
"That's not it. But if Ragna's nearby... My determination will grow dull."
As she complained by sighing, Celica revealed her real motive.
"You're surprisingly not that resolved, ain't you?"
"Ahaha. It will be lonely when I can't be together with Ragna."
Ragna's cheeks spontaneously slackened.
No matter how many times Celica thought about it, she herself must have beem troubled about the hard decision. An emotion welled up within Ragna's existence because she looked like a helplessly naïve girl.
Ragna walked to where Celica was.
While he was on his way, he pushed the listlessly standing Nine's shoulder, entrusting the girl with her head hung to Trinity.
As expected, the gigantic lynchpin looked quite majestic by looking at the proximity. With that sort of magnificent design, the atmosphere it put on was overwhelming. For that very reason, he couldn’t be certain if it was really created by the hands of man.
"Sorry for the determination you've built up, but it's already no use to talk about the Kushinada's Lynchpin."
While looking up at the lynchpin, Ragna spoke like it was nothing.
Since his tone was too light, Celica couldn't comprehend what he said right away.
"Huh...? Eh, wait, what? What do you mean?"
"Like I said, it's no use to talk about stopping the Black Beast using this stuff. And isn't it weird? Let's say you become a sacrifice and protect the world for the sake of people valuable to you. But on the other hand, will that really be a happy world for the people you feel important?"
Since the people she protected wouldn't actually be delighted with the peace, would it be meaningless? At the very least, Nine wouldn't welcome a future without Celica. With Celica already gone, perhaps peace wouldn't ever visit her.
Besides, at any rate, Celica wanted to smile in relief seeing the world she loved so much being peaceful.
Ragna began to speak as natural as possible.
"There's another way to stop the Black Beast. And we don't have to use Kushinada's Lynchpin."
"What's wrong all of a sudden? You found something outside?"
"Nah. ...I just remembered."
Ragna dodged the question from the dumbfounded Celica by scratching his head. He had found a way from his lost memory by chance. Since it was going to be complicated talking about his conversation with Rachel that was in front of the Cauldron, he wanted to leave it behind if he could.
"What's the other way?"
It seemed Celica was still not fully satisfied. With an examining gaze, she looked up at Ragna while she asked him.
"Aah... I can't tell too much of the details. Anyway, I just have to get close to the Black Beast."
He had no idea about what he should do specifically.
Just by being directly near the Black Beast, some kind of phenomenon should occur. After all, like the Black Beast, the Ragna in this period was an existence that had come from the Boundary.
But since his words were ambiguous, the anxious Celica looked up at him with her eyebrows raised up in a miserable look.
"Does that mean Ragna will become a sacrifice on my behalf?"
"Not like that. I'll charge in, and then get back. Only that."
He really didn't have the slightest idea of it, so he would just leave it at that.
But Celica's face grew more anxious. She took a step closer to Ragna and tightly gripped the sleeve of Ragna's jacket.
"You'll never be able to get close to the Black Beast! You won't leave unscathed... If you're careless...! "
He would die.
The Black Beast was a symbol of destruction. Those who approached it had been destroyed entirely.
"I'm fine. I'll do it properly. I don't want Ragna get exposed to danger again!"
"You're such an idiot."
Toward Celica who looked up at him as if she were clinging to him, Ragna lightly hit her head. A clunk noise could be heard.
"Ouch."
"I, Nine, and everyone else are all the same. Nobody feels like sacrificing you. That's why I came up with an alternate plan."
Compared to the Kushinada's Lynchpin Shuuichirou had left behind, the alternate plan felt uncertain as it had no theory backing on it. But if it went smoothly, it would be for the best. No, it had to go smoothly.
Squinting his dazed eye, Ragna looked at Celica. In fact, Celica was sparkling. She didn't have any ill will. She never learned about hostility. She didn't embrace malice. She was pure, foolish, and innocent. That was why...
"...I've got a younger brother and sister."
Ragna spoke with a whisper-like voice.
Every time he exchanged glance between Celica and Nine, some part in his head ached. After he remembered something, it became all the more painful.
"Both of them said they love me. There was a time when I thought they were troublesome. But just like you to your big sis, they're still important to me. ...But I couldn't protect them."
As if he chewed on it, a bitter taste spread within his mouth. He recalled it clearly. It was a memory of a beginning that shouldn't be forgotten.
"So that's why, let me protect you this time."
He wanted to believe that he had enough strength to protect the people he wished to protect. He was different from his absolutely powerless self during that time. What would be the consequence was less important.
He had enough of getting down on his knees, unable to do anything.
Ragna put his hand on Celica's head.
"One other thing. You take it lightly, but losing the brother and sister you're supposed to protect is pretty hard. Something like bond that's left within yourself will pull you apart forever."
"..."
Just as her pupils became wet, Celica saw her older sister.
Cuddling close together with Trinity, Nine motionlessly watched over Celica and Ragna's conversation.
She was a big sister who always looked dignified, powerful, attractive, strong-willed while also beautiful. But only now her shoulders looked thin. Moreover, the girl appeared to be fragile.
"Celica, didn't you also say it back then? If you have a power to do something, then you'll use it protect... And so am I. I want you to smile."
"I also..."
Since her throat chocked, Celica strained it to bring her voice out.
"I also want Ragna to smile."
"Then it's decided. I'll do something to that monster. And since I'll return later, everything will be settled, won't it?"
"Ragna..."
Transparent drops of water floated on Celica's big eyes.
But Ragna ruffled Celica's head and disturbed her hair. Wiping the drops from the corner of her eyes with her fingertips, Celica did a big nod with a cheerful smile that was similar to the time when he first saw it.
By the time the conversation came to an end, it was already late. The surface was completely confined in the dead of night.
As Japan was a land without people inhabiting it, naturally, there wouldn't be a place to rent or lights to illuminate the street at night. Taking that into consideration, they were going to pass the time until dawn in the underground research facility as it felt rather accommodating.
Though, there wasn't anything that could substitute a futon. Because of it, if they spread their mantles and jackets on the usual hidden room's floor, they should have been able to sleep.
Inside the room, Trinity again brewed new tea. After Ragna refused it, he went out of the room to stroll a bit.
Even if he said he wanted to stroll around, the place where he was going was a hall with the Cauldron's surroundings stretched. Close to the mortar-shaped cave, there was a thin, dull staircase that went on for a distance.
Ragna stood near the Cauldron again, inevitably with no light above him. This time he wasn't searching for Rachel, but to take a peek of its contents.
"Boundary, eh...?"
He muttered for some reason. He couldn't even guess what on earth the Boundary was or where it connected to. It was unthinkable to drown anyone inside it.
If... assuming that nothing would happen when Ragna approached the Black Beast, would Celica make use of that lynchpin?
He didn't want to consider it. But even if by any chance he wasn't successful, he would rather have to choose an even more different alternative than having the lynchpin as the last resort.
"Eh, I'll just do something and it should be over in no sweat..."
Then, she was there.
"Do you have a moment?"
With a distinct voice, Nine spoke to him.
In contrast with her tone that felt really strong-willed, her constantly sharp, intimidating gaze was wandering around as if searching for something.
"I believe I have something I've yet to say."
"About what?"
"...About Celica. Thank you for stopping her wish."
She muttered while standing alone.
Ragna spontaneously grinned. It felt creepy.
"That's so unlike you."
"Oh, shut up. Even I want to express my gratitude properly for once. Especially... since this time I thought it was already hopeless."
While she rapidly told her reply, Nine brushed up her hair in her annoyance.
"Back then, that child never listened whenever she was reminded. She went out alone even when I had warned her so many times. Although I wanted her to do what I told her, in the end, it became just like that in spite of everything."
Looking at today's case of searching her father, he understood enough of it. "She's an astonishing girl," said Nine as she also gazed at the Cauldron from beside Ragna.
"I wonder why she listens if it's coming from you. It makes me sick."
"Hell if I know."
Ragna shrugged his shoulders. Nine boringly looked at that gesture with a sidelong glance and dropped her shoulders with a sigh.
"...It's going to be okay, right?"
"Ah?"
"The 'alternate plan' you said. Can it really able to constrain the Black Beast?"
"Maybe."
Unsatisfied with Ragna's answer, Nine expression grew bitter.
"You're not confident?"
"Not that, or else I wouldn't say it. But..."
Suddenly, Ragna intensely frowned while glaring at the Boundary. He was reminded of the history of the Dark War that was commonly known when he was a child.
"If it turns out well, I've got a favor to ask you."
"Me?"
Ragna knew something that no one else knew. Nine and Mitsuyoshi, who probably changed his name to Jubei for some reason, would defeat Black Beast. Furthermore, the Six Heroes named Nine had one more accomplishment.
"The Black Beast will be stopped of its activities for maybe a year."
This time, it was Nine who frowned after Ragna distinctly told his statement.
"How do you know about that?"
"Many reasons. I've got my own circumstances too, y'know?"
As one would expect, saying he came from the future would made it too suspicious. Hence he decided to pass on it. He didn't have anything to say to make up for it, so Ragna turned around his whole body to face Nine.
As if she was lured in, Nine also changed the direction of her body.
"One year. During that time, get the strength needed for humanity to battle the Black Beast. A further delay probably isn't gonna happen."
The green eye that was only on his left side was reflecting the color of the Boundary's lava. Receiving the heavy, straightforward gaze that had agony in it, Nine slowly nodded as if she gulped.
"One year, eh. Okay."
"And one more thing. ...Watch out for the guy named Yuuki Terumi."
"Yuuki Terumi? Who's he?"
Puzzled, Nine's eyebrows drew closer. Ragna lightly shook his head.
"I also don't know in details, but..."
"...You have a reason, huh? Fine, I give my promise to both."
As if burning, the strong light of Nine's determination was brimming in her pupils. Since it looked surprisingly trustworthy, Ragna sighed in relief, together with a smile.
Instead, Nine quickly continued on.
"You, too. Do your best in trying not to make what you've said just now as your last wish. If you make Celica cry, I won't forgive you."
"O-okay."
The threatening tone of voice she had used was as if to say that she would kill him the moment he made her cry.
Somewhat backing out, Ragna greatly pulled his chin. He believed that about half of it came from his reflexes.
"...Hm?"
Suddenly, Nine grimaced. Not at Ragna, but something else. She kept an eye on the vicinity.
The atmosphere surrounding her went sharp.
"Nine?"
"Be quiet. I'm detecting... something."
As Ragna's wariness switch also turned on, he examined the surroundings. He didn't grasp what Nine was talking about.
Thanks to magic, Nine's current perception was upped to about the double of a normal person's. That's right. Just about as high as a beastkin's.
Mitsuyoshi rushed out in a hurry from the passage leading to the hidden room.
"Ragna! Nine!"
No sooner than when he discovered them, he raised his voice that had also been exposed to wariness.
It was an unusual situation. Urged by Nine's gaze, Ragna hurriedly rushed over together with her to where Mitsuyoshi was.
"What's wrong? Something happened?"
"Yeah. I dunno exactly what... A terrible an' awful presence's gettin' closer. Also, it's doin' it with an unusual speed."
"Terrible and awful...?"
As it was too vague, Ragna's thoughts merged to do his best to imagine something horrible.
For example, a black mist———.
"Everyone! Come here!"
This time, Celica hurriedly called them from the room's entrance.
Ragna and the others went back as if striving to be the first.
Within the elliptical-shaped room with a part of its ceiling hollowed, Trinity was overcome with surprise while she was in front of a magic circle that emerged on the floor. From the magic circle, a thin veil-like light was shining in the shape of upside-down cone. The spectacle above the ground was projected on it.
"Everyone, look..."
Although the floating image in the magic circle was pale, Trinity was adjusting it. Everybody lined up beside her.
The scene they were seeing was dark. It was natural since it was night.
No, that was wrong.
"This is...!"
Ragna gasped. It wasn't dark because it was night. The screen was gradually dyed in black. From the ground, an object of black mist fiercely gushed out and enshrouded the vicinity.
This kind of scene had had been witnessed. It wasn't only for Ragna, but also Celica and Mitsuyoshi. It was during the appearance of the lump of mist they had encountered in a research facility they had visited first when searching for Shuuichirou.
However, the scale didn't match to the one at that time.
"It can't be...!?"
Bewildered, Mitsuyoshi groaned in a hoarse voice. His two tails were seemingly appeared thickly swollen.
The mist in the image which Trinity projected became denser and denser as it gathered. Before long, it became an enormous lump and overcrowded the image.
As the discharged magic became disturbed, the image then vanished.
But there was no need to do it again to get a confirmation.
"———It's the Black Beast."
It was not a remnant.
A sinister sound was heard far away at the surface.
All of them unconsciously directed their gaze to the ceiling.
Accompanied by an enormous quantity of seithr mass, the Black Beast was... facing this way.
Rushing out to the Cauldron hall again, Ragna looked up at the lid-like opening that should be far away above his head.
The fact that it was far and that the area of the Cauldron's vicinity was brighter somehow made it hard to see the opening. Only a widespread of deep darkness could be seen.
Still, when he properly adjusted his eye, the enveloping darkness above him gradually dissolved at a fast rate. What should have been able to be seen that was covered by light became clear.
There was no room for doubt.
It was during the moment they thought so. On a part of the hall far away from where Ragna's group at, illuminated by the lights that came from the Cauldron, a noise that was like a gushing steam began to reverberate.
What had been spewing was black mist.
"It's coming...!"
Nine put herself on guard. Magic was swirling around her.
While stretching out his sensitivity at his surroundings, Ragna shook his head as lightly as he could.
"No, it's impossible. Run."
When he muttered, sweat ran down on his back. His throat went dry at the unusual tension.
Nine snapped at the withdrawing figure.
"Huh? What do you mean by running away!?"
"No time for complaining. Nine, can you do teleportation?"
"Wh... Kuh, teleportation? It's not that I can't. Something that easy..."
Ragna's low but strong tone of voice seemed authoritative. It made Nine slightly flinch when she replied. Why did she have to be ordered by Ragna? It made her disgruntled. But now wasn't the situation to fuss over such a trivial thing.
"If you can, then get ready to start it up. And get away as far as you can from here."
"Ragna, do you intend to remain alone!?"
The one who raised her voice was Celica, telling him not to say such a ridiculous thing. She ran and snatched Ragna's sleeve.
"Your opponent is the Black Beast, you know. I can't leave you here alone while you're facing it!"
"She's right. Besides, I want to fight, too. I can assist you from behind."
Nine displayed her objection within her aggressive stare. Following her, even Trinity leaned her body forward.
"Me, too. I'm ready to help you with protective magic. It is reckless to face it alone."
"I appreciate the sentiment, but I'll be troubled if you stay here. I don't know what will happen once I collide with the Black Beast. Worst case scenario, you all might get dragged up."
In a different place, mist began to gushing out again. Two, three of other places followed suit.
Stepping back a bit, Ragna turned his face toward Nine as if telling her to hurry.
"Get on your feet! You all got mountain loads of things to do after this! If you get hurt, time will just get wasted! It'll get you in trouble!"
Nine's body stiffened. Ragna truly believed that he would create a gap of one year. No, he most likely would create it.
Nine had to use every bit of that time for the sake of suppressing the Black Beast.
Although her face looked frustrated, Nine bit her lips while she withdrew.
"Everyone, don't leave my side."
Annoyed and frustrated, Nine started focusing her consciousness. Not to strike Black Beast or its remnants, but to connect her consciousness to a place that wasn't here, crossing over airspace.
Nine's long hair fluttered. She started to be covered with a fascinating light.
Mitsuyoshi took a several large steps as if he was getting away from there.
"I'll stay."
"Hey! Bastard, did you listen to me!?"
Upset, Ragna yelled rudely at Mitsuyoshi who nimbly unsheathed his sword.
"My ears still work fine. But unlike the young lady, I can do nothin' but wield my sword. Although ye said the Black Beast's action would stop, I feel that it needs to happen as soon as possible."
Mitsuyoshi grinned. A smile was formed on the cat's mouth. His triangular ears were twitching.
"Though I might seem stubborn, I got confidence in myself. After all, ye won't reach its real body if yer careless. Just think of me as a firearm that's clearin' away the remnants in yer way."
Ragna clicked his tongue. But he was actually grateful for Mitsuyoshi's offer.
After he barely arrived in front of the real body, it was meaningless to crush the remnants that were around there.
There was nothing more reliable than having the competent Mitsuyoshi shaking off the remnants since he would just get overwhelmed.
"...Then, I'll be relying on you."
Behind Ragna and Mitsuyoshi, Nine's magic circle had its brilliance increasing.
"Then, we'll go on ahead. I'll leave this place to you two."
Nine spoke while she was on the center of the circle.
A faint sparkle was fired from Trinity's fingertip. It vanished after it wrapped Ragna and Mitsuyoshi.
"It's a protective magic that doesn't need to be controlled~. It should guard you against any physical impact."
"Thanks for the help."
Ragna raised the corner of his lips as he smiled. Trinity deeply bowed her head.
From beside her, Celica suddenly ran.
"Ragna!"
She rushed over and dived into his arms. Both of her hands were holding on Ragna's jacket tightly. Rather than clinging to him, it was more like she hugged him close.
"Wh... Idiot! Get back to the magic circle quickly!"
"You said you'll return. You'll really come back, right?"
Celica looked up at Ragna, demanding an explanation.
Looking down on her large eyes, Ragna felt an excessive strain come out from his body.
It felt nostalgic. Come to think of it, back when he met Celica for the first time, he felt familiar with the girl's gaze and her gentle expression.
Perhaps, it was possible that he had met her somewhere in the future period. If so, it was a wonder.
"Yeah. I promise."
Ragna smiled bitterly. He answered with a voice that had no hesitation in it.
It was a lie. He shouldn't be able to keep such promises. The opponent was the Black Beast. He mocked himself over the fact that he would definitely die. His cowardly self couldn't help but made its complaints be heard.
However, he didn't want to say the truth here.
It was fine, even if it was a lie. If he didn't promise to come back safely, he had a bad feeling that his feet would get dragged to something and he really would die.
Ragna took off the red jacket he had been wearing and gave it to Celica.
"Hold it for me. I'll return and pick it up."
Celica stared at Ragna for a while. Hugging the given jacket close to her, she then smiled as bright as the sun.
"...Okay, I understand. I'll trust you."
It was a lie. She shouldn't be able to believe him. She had a feeling that they wouldn't be able to meet again. That sad thought accumulated in her chest and made her suffocate.
But at the same time, she also felt that Ragna would return. Without any ground whatsoever, she truly believed it without a doubt. Celica supported herself with only that thought.
While holding Ragna's jacket in her arms, Celica slightly stood on her tiptoes.
Maybe it was the aftereffect of the fight between Nine and Mitsuyoshi as there was a small scratch on Ragna's cheek.
There, as if touching it gently, she gave it a kiss. The small wound recovered and vanished without a trace.
"You promised! I'll be waiting for Ragna to come back together with Mitsuyoshi-san!"
With her long hair and skirt lightly fluttered, Celica ran back to her sister's magic circle.
She furiously waved her hand to the dumbfounded Ragna.
Right after Celica's smile bloomed like a flower, the girls disappeared from that place.
As the flowers left, what had been delayed of its arrival was darkness.
The surroundings were bustling as a considerable number of holes where mist gushed out increased again and again.
Ragna and Mitsuyoshi dashed toward the middle of the hall with their respective weapon in hand.
Along the way, their pace was thrown out of order as there were some fragments of the mist. As if it was their everyday duty, they nonchalantly cleared them by decapitation, scattering them away.
After they had secured the space needed to fight, from the sky, a black lump descended with the force as if a giant sandbag had fell down.
If there were some names that could be used to address those noises, it would be nice.
It was too much of a darkness.
Countless extending, long necks which resembled serpents were rising slowly. The hall around the Cauldron that felt spacious was not enough as it ran out of space, covered by shadow. It was like the hall was engulfed. No, just by looking up at that irrationally gigantic body, it undoubtedly made them taste the sensation of being swallowed.
"Ha...haha. This guy's no joke."
Ragna laughed involuntarily. That voice sounded ridiculously feeble even to him.
From far away above his head, gigantic red eyes of the gigantic necks were looking down at their way, as if they were glaring.
Despair was leaning forward.
"...This is...the Black... Beast."
Scraping dusts, Mitsuyoshi's feet took a step back. He set up his sword and claws firmly. However, the tip of the sword was trembling as he was unable to conceal it.
"It's... it's impossible. This ain't something that can be easily handled by a man's hands."
Even if he made himself not think such a pathetic thought, his instinct screamed warnings.
No matter how he thought, it wasn't something someone could compete with.
His body stiffened, his feet paralyzed.
Before he knew it, he had withdrawn for quite a significant distance. Ragna's back appeared ahead of his line of sight.
With that kind of back, Ragna gave a glance as he looked over his shoulder.
"Get a hold of yourself. You're strong. So strong that someone like me is no match for you."
That belief didn't come from just one time when they crossed their swords. Mitsuyoshi probably would be Ragna's master in the period to come. His master was one of the Six Heroes that once had killed the Black Beast. He wouldn't be defeated here. He shouldn't be defeated.
Ragna fearlessly raised his lips.
"Something ridiculous beyond imagination has appeared... But it's too late to quit now. We got no choice but to do this, right?"
Bring it on, he thought. Probably the conquered fear had turned into thrilling motivation that ran down his spine.
Ragna tightly gripped his sword with both of his hands.
"Hey, Ragna."
Looking at Ragna who glanced back at the Black Beast again, Mitsuyoshi opened his mouth for a question.
"Couldn't you not move yer right arm?"
He was right. Indeed, just a while ago, only numbness could be felt on Ragna's right arm which was dangling heavily. But amazingly, now it moved. The discomforts he felt until now were like lies since it felt rather light.
"I don't really get it, but it somehow works."
It was also the same for the right eye that shouldn't be able to see. As the eyelid lifted up, his vision had regained back its original range for the first in a long time. It was now reflecting a terrifying mass of shadow.
Suddenly, it was twitching only for his right eye. His right arm throbbed at the same time.
It was only for a moment. There was no pain. Perhaps, it was rather close to a pleasuring shiver. As if something identical with their nature had melt together and made a connection.
(Aah, I get it... If so, then that might be the reason.)
As the reason had come down on him, Ragna grinned.
He remembered on why his right arm and right eye couldn't do anything.
———The Azure Grimoire.
He didn't know the exact concept of what kind of object that was, but it was probably something related to the Boundary, possibly the seithr.
However, their actions had been severely restrained because of something. Just like when the lynchpin was used according to Shuuichirou Ayatsuki's research.
It was probably because of Celica.
While the girl possessed a special healing power, at the same time, she also could hold back seithr's activity. Her restraining ability grew stronger as the seithr's scale grew larger. Because of Celica's influence, Ragna's right arm was temporarily suspended of any action.
"I thought it was because I've come to the past, but looks like that isn't the case. What the hell? Just tell me so if it's like that."
While muttering his complaint to himself, Ragna firmly gripped his right hand. The distinct sensation he hadn't felt for a while made a deep smile came upon him.
With this, he would be able to somehow manage even if the opponent was Black Beast.
Ragna once again raised his eyes on the dark mass in front of his eyes. The more one looked at it, the more outrageous it was.
The numerous necks could easily crush the likes of Ragna in one strike. They swayed as if putting themselves on guard.
"Until the end, I'm a human. I'll fight as a human being. What are you going to do?"
Ragna asked Mitsuyoshi. This time, Ragna didn't turn his head as his back faced Mitsuyoshi.
Mitsuyoshi took a deep breath and prepared his claws and sword once again.
"Just like ye said, we can't quit anymore..."
It wasn't to drive away his fear, but Mitsuyoshi was fully determined. Alone, Ragna was planning to attack the Black Beast's real body. Before him, Mitsuyoshi couldn't let himself alone to be seized with fear.
"Good. Then Mitsuyoshi, once I jumped on that guy, quickly retreat."
"Wh-!? Don't joke around, I...!"
He stayed in order to support Ragna. There was no way he could run away despite being told so.
But as if brushing away Mitsuyoshi's words, Ragna spoke.
"You still got a life to live."
That voice felt too heavy, and also sincere. Mitsuyoshi involuntarily swallowed his objection.
The truth was, Mitsuyoshi had a lot to say. Like, 'how could he run while the enemy was in front of him?'. Like, 'what are you going to do?'. ...Like, 'didn't you promise to come back to Celica?'.
But what made him unable to speak of them was because he completely understood that Ragna was personally prepared for it.
Instead, Mitsuyoshi went next to Ragna once more to stand beside him and asked something.
"Let me hear yer name."
"Huh? But I've given my name already."
"Ya got yer memory back, didn'tcha? What I want to know is yer true name."
Ragna wryly smiled. The name 'Ragna' Mitsuyoshi called him with wasn't a fake. On the other hand, Ragna didn't have a family name that indicated his origin.
That's why, this name should be the answer for his question.
"Bloodedge. It's Ragna the Bloodedge."
"...I'll remember it."
Nodding in his satisfaction, Mitsuyoshi displayed a smile in only an instant.
"Okay, let's go!"
"Leave the remnants to me."
As he heard Mitsuyoshi's reliable words, Ragna set his body low and broke into a run, dragging his sword.
In a straight line, he went toward the Black Beast.
The small black mists which had been blocking his way were scattered as the flying around gale from Mitsuyoshi sliced them off.
As expected of his arm. It would never yield.
"Restriction 666 released!"
As he recited the words that were engraved in his mind and body, the bandage, which was wrapped on Ragna's right arm, forcefully burst open. What appeared was not a human arm. It was as if it was created from hardened darkness. It was a black and sinister big arm.
Noticing it, Mitsuyoshi flinched for a moment with his movement stiffened as he found out about it.
Despite everything, he ran, preparing the jet black arm.
"Dimensional Interference Field deployed!"
As he said the words, countless red lines ran down Ragna's arm. He felt a great deal of power that could crush anything.
"BlazBlue, Activate!"
The round orb in the back of his arm flickered as if it was blinking. The Azure had awakened. Clad in the flickering Azure, his fingers' form were transformed.
What was before his eyes was a dreadful giant mass of darkness. Countless necks tried to seize Ragna all at once.
He spontaneously smiled.
"HERE WE GO, YOU GIGANTIC ASSHOLE!!"
After he roared, Ragna kicked the earth, cleared away the rising mist, and charged in toward the Black Beast.
Mitsuyoshi's shout that could be heard calling his name.
The somewhat cold Cauldron's heat that had become distant.
The bright red color of the flames.
Anything and everything was eroded by black shadow.
The Black Beast raised its countless crooked necks like a wave. And then, it swallowed Ragna altogether.
As night dawned, morning came.
With morning passed and became noon, it would be night again.
After the night ended once more, the day would flow again and became night.
Celica quickly jumped on her feet at the modest sounds of door being knocked.
The person who knocked was Valkenhayn.
This place was the castle of the Alucard family which had Rachel Alucard as the new family head.
Celica was in the guest room.
After she heard the notice from Valkenhayn, Celica's expression bloomed, and then it got clouded as she ran on the hallway.
Running down the long stairs, she arrived on the first floor. She then ran with all her might from the entranceway to the parlor.
"Haah... haah... hah... Mitsuyoshi... san."
The notice Valkenhayn had reported to Celica was the return of Mitsuyoshi.
Sitting on the luxurious sofa in the parlor, Mitsuyoshi had wounds all over his body. Everywhere, dry blood stuck on his abundant fur and made it hard. Wounds covered all over him up to his long, flexible tails.
Falling behind Celica, Nine and Trinity finally arrived. Seeing Mitsuyoshi, both of them opened their eyes wide in surprise at his state.
He didn't appear to have the stamina to raise his body. Despite all that, with a firm expression, Mitsuyoshi turned to the direction opposite of him. Instead of lying down, he kept on sitting.
He seemed to be either exhausted, drowning in relief, or disciplining himself.
A large sword was held in his arm.
The so-called sword had a wide blade... the characteristic of Ragna's sword.
Celica hurriedly went to Mitsuyoshi's side and performed healing magic. However, the healed wounds were so small. Only grazes and cuts had received healing.
"...Sorry."
Suddenly, Mitsuyoshi talked.
A trembling, worn-out voice that could snap anytime. As if to get rid of it, Mitsuyoshi squeezed out his hoarse voice.
"Ragna charged at the Black Beast. Countless necks that were like snake's head bit 'im all at once... swallowed 'im. ...Black Beast's activity then came to a stop. After that, it disappeared, along with Ragna."
With pauses in-between, Mitsuyoshi spoke while he looked for words to use.
"What's left is this."
He clumsily moved his arm to give the sword he had been holding firmly to Celica.
Something black was sticking on the sword. It was unknown whether if it was the Black Beast's blood, Ragna's blood, or something entirely different.
"Sorry. ...I shouldn't have come back with just this."
"...It's okay."
Toward Mitsuyoshi's apology that seemed as his thought splitting up his chest, Celica lightly shook her head.
"I'm happy that you came back. ...Thank you, Mitsuyoshi-san."
With a compassionate smile, Celica wiped Mitsuyoshi's wet eyes and hugged the sword she had received with care.
