"Then he said, 'It's fine as long as Atou stays with me,' and hearing those words, I was reminded that Takuto is truly the most wonderful and admirable person in the world, and my loyalty—"
"Hey, Atou..."
A girl's grandiose speech was unfolding.
It had been going on without pause for some time now, continuing on and on without end.
"Oh, speaking of wonderful, there's this story too. When I made the big decision to study cooking for my future. I was practicing in secret, but Takuto somehow found out and tried my homemade cooking—"
"Atou? Hey, Atou!"
At first tentatively, then with a slightly firmer tone.
The confused witch's interjections had been coming in for a while, but the heated speech didn't stop—if anything, its fervor only intensified.
"And when it didn't turn out well, Takuto said to me, 'Whatever Atou makes—'"
"Enough already! You damn pervert!"
Just as the speech reached its climax, Erakino's rage also hit its peak with a shout that finally stopped Atou's unwanted rambling.
Or rather, it was forced to a halt.
Indeed, Atou shot a displeased look at Erakino, as if her fun time had been ruined.
"...Oh? Are you still here, witch?"
"I'm not a witch! I mean, I am, but... I have a name, so use it properly—Erakino!"
She slammed the table repeatedly while shouting, but Atou, for her part, was completely unaffected.
From the moment she'd arrived and Erakino had asked for information about Takuto Ira, she had done nothing but enthusiastically share stories of their time together.
Even the formidable witch Erakino was fed up with this.
It was no wonder she forgot herself and screamed in anger.
As for Atou, she showed no remorse. Naturally, she felt no need to apologize either.
"So how did that go, Witch? I was in the middle of something delightful just now. And here I was, ready to regale you with a heartwarming little story about Takuto and myself—how utterly tasteless to interrupt. Wasn't it you lot who first started asking about him?"
"Well, yeah, but... what we wanted to hear wasn't that kind of lovey-dovey stuff! Anyway! Atou, you're on Erakino's side, right?! Why are you casually sharing memories with the enemy, Takuto Ira, after you've switched sides?"
"A man and woman, torn apart by war yet still drawn to each other... isn't that wonderfully romantic?"
"You... you hopeless romantic fool..."
Spasms of tension shot through Erakino's mind. She was smiling on the surface, but her cheeks were drawn tight, and her eyes held no mirth. Sitting beside her, Soarina—unable to watch her dear friend descend into such a state—tried desperately to soothe her, but Erakino's fury showed no signs of abating.
To this witch, the fellow witch Atou cast a bewildered gaze, let out a great, unknowing sigh, and once again opened her glib mouth as if instructing an ignorant fool.
"Well, yes, I am indeed on your side now. Regrettably, Takuto and I are enemies. That fact hasn't changed. Should we meet on the battlefield, I will show no mercy and will drive my blade home without hesitation. However! If I may say so! This feeling I harbor for Takuto is equally genuine!"
"Er... Erakino is getting very anxious..."
Ignoring the question entirely, Atou puffed out her chest with pride. She seemed quite pleased with herself, but poor Erakino had already reached her limit. In the end, she clutched her head and crumpled to the ground on the spot.
Beside her, Soarina, who had been trying to encourage her, could only watch. There was nothing she could do about this. They hadn't called this scatterbrained, daydreaming girl here to listen to her romantic fantasies. The conversation was going nowhere.
"Now then, leaving this tiresome witch aside for a moment. You over there, Holy Maiden. You seem more capable of holding a conversation. Do you have any questions? I will answer only those concerning Takuto."
Taking advantage of Erakino's abrupt shutdown, Atou shifted her pointed attention to the Holy Maiden next door, who had been trying to play the role of a third party.
Soarina's shoulder twitched as the question was suddenly hurled at her. Her gaze involuntarily darted to Fenne for help, but the latter was leaning against the wall a short distance away, merely observing their situation with no intention of joining the dialogue.
This was the crucial moment. She had to be careful with her questions, or this one-woman theater would start all over again. She had already grown sick of listening to the lovesick girl's performance. What mattered now were the strategic intelligence that could determine their fates in the battles to come.
"Well, first I'd like to know if Takuto Ira is alive or not. Your thoughts—"
"He is alive."
The answer came back with stark clarity before the carefully constructed question could even finish. Unlike her earlier rambling, her demeanor was now serious, but reading between the lines, it wasn't particularly strange that Atou held such conviction in Takuto Ira's survival.
I was signaled by her gaze to continue, and I pondered. What should I ask next? More fundamentally, on what grounds did she become convinced of Takuto Ira's survival? That was something I wanted to hear.
"…Reasons? There's no way he's alive in that situation. Anyway, who and where was the one that pierced his heart, again?"
Erakino, having recovered somewhat, immediately took Soarina's place to make a sharp observation. To assert things so definitively meant there was definitely some trick involved.
Indeed, his heart had been pierced and burned to ash. What mechanism or ability allowed survival within that?
"You ask for the reason Takuto is alive? The reason is… if I must say, it's because he is Takuto. There is no other reason."
But an answer that wasn't an answer came back. Moreover, the inconvenient parts were completely ignored. On the contrary, she was filled with unnecessary confidence.
This again. Since she was a comrade, the possibility of her lying was low, and it seemed she truly believed it from the bottom of her heart. This was hopeless.
"That's not a reason at all… And to think, the Filthy Witch of Ruin, vanguard of the King of Calamity, was such a brain-rotted romantic. I'm shocked, Erakino. It's a wonder you managed to do your job until now ♪"
"I have always fulfilled my duties flawlessly. I have never once caused trouble for Takuto through blunders or selfishness."
"Really? That has to be a lie, right…?"
They were under a misconception, but this was simply Atou's true nature. Having the role of a hero had allowed her some measure of self-restraint, but now even that was gone. With her duties as a hero, her obligations as a subordinate, and her instincts as a demon all gone, she was nothing more than a girl utterly smitten with Takuto Ira.
I was confident it would be effective, a card I played with great expectation, but it was a terrible miscalculation.
"Ah, and if I may add. It is certain Takuto is alive, but I have no idea how. This is neither a lie nor an omission, and now that I am your ally, I have no reason to conceal it from you. In fact, I'd rather like to know myself, so don't be offended."
"Then you are saying the King of Ruin, Takuto Ira, survived or was resurrected from that situation through some means, all without ever letting you know or revealing it?"
"Yes. It surprises me too, but if it's Takuto, it might be possible. As expected of Takuto, impressive even as an enemy!"
Atou gazed into the void with a somewhat entranced expression.
Eulalia, trying desperately to draw the dreamy girl back from her own world with words wrung from the sea of her thoughts, understood her considerations were lacking, but spoke the words she knew Atou would react to most.
"Um! If Atou... you don't know, then perhaps the King of Ruin is actually destroyed? It... it may be a harsh thing to say to you..."
"Then why are you all seeking my advice?"
With those words, the heat born from the previous exchange rapidly cooled. She was right. The moment they deviated from the original plan to seek aid from Atou of the Mire, it was an emergency.
The fact that no one present could immediately answer her point proved the correctness of Atou's words all too well.
"If the King of Ruin, Takuto Ira, were truly destroyed, you would all be able to continue governing your nation smoothly. Even if there was some resistance, no enemy could stand before that despicable trick you used. And I would have remained as a doll, dozing in that dream forever, never to awaken. Am I wrong?"
It was not wrong. Nothing was wrong.
There was certainly a feeling of 'you, who were just lamenting about the King of Ruin, are one to say that?' But even so, Atou's point hit the mark. Rather, the undeniable correctness of her observation vividly demonstrated the danger of the situation they were in.
A dark presence, lightless shadow that would never emerge into the day, felt like it was approaching from somewhere.
The simple emotion of incomprehension was enough to fill them with an eerie terror.
"But still!" Eulalia screamed hysterically, throwing a fit. "Erakino and the others have to solve this incident! Whether Takuto Ira is alive or not, we can't afford to lose! Understand!? We absolutely cannot lose!!"
Atou seemed to ponder those words for a moment, then said "Hmm" in a cute voice, placing her index finger on her chin as she shifted her gaze to the blank ceiling.
"Since it's utterly impossible, why not surrender now? As a comrade-in-arms, I can at least petition for your lives. Takuto would surely listen to a request from me, someone special to him. You should weep with joy and gratitude right here and now—for the fact that I am your ally."
She was unwavering.
She completely believed Takuto Ira would win.
And she wholeheartedly believed she would be spared and saved.
Those clear eyes held no suspicion of Takuto Ira whatsoever; she was convinced of their defeat, even as she considered them comrades in the rebellion she'd joined.
Her confidence was infuriating.
Erakino, feeling she'd reached her limit, spat out every scornful remark she could muster.
"First off, Atou is betraying Takuto by being here, isn't she? Even if Erakino's forces brainwashed her, would the King of Ruin forgive a traitor like that~? Maybe he's already sick of you~? Could he have another girl? Too bad, you got dumped~ how pathetic~♪"
"That is impossible. Takuto is always kind to me, understands me, and accepts me. This time too, everything will work out, and in the end, he'll gently tell me he was more worried about me than anything. He always puts me first. That is who Takuto is!"
"He ain't that understanding of a boyfriend! Such girlish fantasies are impossible in reality—wake up!"
She kicked the table over with a resounding thud.
Propelled by the witch's supernatural strength, it shot upward, aiming to embed itself in the ceiling... but was caught by Atou's tentacles before it could.
"Boyfriend? Takuto and I aren't dating yet! O-Of course! I-I do hope we can become such a relationship, though..."
Blushing and fidgeting with her fingers, Atou gently returned the table to its place. Strangely enough, Erakino, facing her, also had a red face—for an entirely opposite reason, of course.
"You look so happy! How fun! Life must be rose-colored, right!! Great for you, Atou—do you even realize you're both fighting for your lives? This is a life-or-death battle!?"
"Of course I understand that. But what about you? Do you truly understand? You don't even have a clue about the true nature of the attacks you're receiving now."
She'd struck a nerve. While the witch Atou was generally in a lovestruck daze, she still landed sharp observations at critical moments.
It was fair to say the other side already held the momentum.
We are being victimized unilaterally and forced onto the back foot. No one here needs to be told that the situation is dire; that fact is understood by all present.
"I may be spared, but all of you will surely be killed. There is absolutely no reason for me to help. If you ask me, you are the ones lacking a sense of agency and urgency. We are dealing with Takuto Ira, after all."
"That is precisely why we must resist, Witch Atou. Tell me... to the best of your knowledge, is there anyone or anything in Takuto Ira's arsenal capable of causing this situation?"
Fenne finally spoke. Though her expression was hidden by her veil, it seemed she had ascended to this stage at last with some deep purpose in mind.
Atou regarded Fenne with a slight look of puzzlement, then after a moment, her expression changed completely to one of irritation as she named a candidate.
"There is one who fits the description. Vittorio, the 'Happy Tongue Disaster.' He is a hero renowned for inciting enemy nations into turmoil and rebellion. A hero of that caliber would have no trouble misleading us with false information. Incidentally, he is also the hero I despise the most."
"What is the likelihood he has been summoned?"
Fenne pressed further. The fact that clear information was now coming from Atou for the first time caused both Erakino and Soarina to hold their breath and watch intently.
"I cannot say with absolute certainty, but at least during my time, I have no memory of him being summoned. With the current state of the facilities and research, it is possible they could produce him, so the possibility cannot be discarded entirely. ...However, I believe it is unlikely."
Like her conviction about Takuto Ira's survival, this was based on an intuition without concrete evidence.
But for now, even that information was sufficient. Just having the fact clarified that a being capable of causing this situation exists on the opposing side brought them one step closer to the truth.
"Any other points of concern?"
"Several. I will inform you later. ...You all seem far too optimistic, which is why I am worried."
Atou contemplated for a moment, her thoughts drifting to the indescribable fragility possessed by the young women before her.
When she had first received this consultation, it had been established and shared that she and Takuto were beings who possessed the abilities of a simulation game called "Eternal Nations."
But beyond the surface-level features of the game system, there were many phenomena the sisters were unaware of.
For instance, the military power Mynoghra had rapidly assembled with the gold coins brought by the Brave Questus Demon Lord's army. The alliance with Fonkavun and the weapons it provided. The sisters, who maximized their power under the full moon, bringing indiscriminate devastation and madness to those around them...
Even if the Takuto she so dearly admired had lost his life at that time, it was definite that their carelessness had been a smoldering ember that could not be ignored.
They seemed to think they had made thorough preparations, but everything had been far too ad hoc. The only reason they had made it this far was due to their ability to force their way through.
"First, we must all understand that Takuto Ira is attacking our side using unknown methods. Question every situation and ensure you are always prepared to respond. From now on, I will be moving together with all of you at all times, so do not separate. The battle could begin at this very moment."
"...Yes, I agree with increasing our vigilance. Now tell me, filth of Atou. Assuming Ira Takuto is alive, can you think of a reason for him to act so sneakily?"
"—Well, it's almost certainly to get his hands on me!"
Haa... everyone sighed in unison.
That was it. Beyond that, they would only hear the same old tired talk again. No, even she didn't truly understand what Ira Takuto was up to.
"So Atou is the captive princess. —I'd prefer you act a bit more meekly, though, in that case."
"Times have changed; that sort of thing isn't in fashion anymore."
"What kind of times do you think these are?! This is a fantasy world!!"
Having seemingly exhausted her sarcasm, Erakino offered a perfunctory reply while sifting through the information she had been given. Atou's words were, as always, heavily biased, but the idea that Ira Takuto was engaging in this kind of shadow play to secure her person might actually be a correct deduction.
It was infuriating that the King of Ruin, who had made such meticulous preparations only to end up like this, was actually alive. But at this point, they had no choice but to accept that hypothesis.
Ira Takuto was alive. They should act on that premise.
And the King of Ruin had used some unknown means to completely suppress their own absolute abilities.
Otherwise, there was no way they, possessing the powers of a Game Master, would have been this stymied.
As Erakino and the others each fell into contemplation, an unnaturally quiet time descended.
The silence, which might have lasted forever, was broken by Atou, who naturally and crisply raised her index finger.
That gesture drew every gaze to her.
"From what I know, Takuto was undoubtedly an ordinary person, possessing no physical power beyond his royal authority as sovereign. However, the events currently transpiring deny all of that."
Atou speaks with overflowing fluency. About the danger posed by the person known as Takuto Ira. For the sake of her companions, no less.
Takuto was… he was without question an ordinary person. Nothing more than a minuscule, ordinary human who tragically lost his life young to a severe illness, holding power as the guide of 'Eternal Nations' and nothing else.
Yet he accomplishes things that should be utterly impossible. No one would call that normal.
Takuto Ira is abnormal.
"Be warned. Takuto resides on a plane beyond our comprehension, acting with the understanding of all things. Yes, in order to steal me away from you, his enemies!"
Having delivered the line she most wanted to say, Atou lets out a satisfied hum and sinks back deeply into the sofa. Having said everything she wished, she is inexplicably in high spirits.
"Haa… In the end, we understand nothing. Or perhaps we only understand that we don't understand. Atou, the utterly useless one…"
"No, I am very useful. After all, I am the only one who can offer the sole advice that will allow you all to survive. —Surrender at once. That is the only way to live."
With that declaration, Atou closes her eyes with satisfaction.
Erakino continues to barrage her with questions, acting as if the conversation is not over, but in the end, he only hears passionate musings about Takuto Ira, and truly meaningless time slips away.