In the moment when everything had been rewound, Atou, having forgotten everything, rushed toward Takuto.
"Takuto!"
"Atou!"
The way she threw herself unhesitatingly into her lord's chest was like a heroine from a story, and though Takuto was briefly flustered by her boldness, a smile spread across his face as he caught her.
"Thank goodness. I was so worried about you. I'm truly happy that you came back."
"I should be the one apologizing for causing you worry, Takuto! But—! I never doubted for a moment that you would come and rescue me from this prison!"
Just how far back had the rewind reached in her heart? Or had the doubts within her dissipated once her allegiance was restored? Either way, Atou was overwhelmed with emotion, and her admiration and loyalty toward the lord who had brilliantly deceived and outmaneuvered the enemy even in such a desperate situation burned stronger than ever.
"It's like she's a captive princess or something."
"And we were seriously trying to kill her too."
Conversely, the twin girls who had been toyed with by this couple from start to finish were visibly displeased. That said, even they seemed pleased that Atou had returned—complaints aside, smiles floated on their faces.
"Your Majesty, all objectives assigned to the warrior band in this operation have been achieved."
"Ah, thank you."
As if cutting through the somewhat lighthearted atmosphere, old Mortar had quietly approached and knelt down to deliver his report. Takuto thought there was no need for such formality, but he failed to notice that Mortar himself, like Atou, was deeply impressed by Takuto's splendid skill and strength.
"Well then. With things this far along, it's just a matter of mopping up now. Everything has gone remarkably well."
The TRPG system had performed the rewind in the best possible way for Takuto. The Holy Knights were all wounded and collapsed—some driven mad by oblivion, others writhing under the torment of plague.
The supposedly resurrected Grand Master of the Holy Knights, Fjord, was drawing his last breath in a corner of the battlefield as if it had all been a dream, while Fenne, who should have recovered from her wounds, lay fallen, and Soarina knelt in a state of utter exhaustion.
In contrast, Mynoghra's forces were virtually unscathed.
Of course, there were some losses among the Long-Legged Insects and Brain Eaters, but there was not a scratch on the Dark Elf warriors or key figures like the elder Mortar.
The System had reverted the results Kuraiku Keiji had unjustly gained through the Adjudicator's power, and it had done so selectively, undoing only the outcomes that had benefited the TRPG faction.
That was why the damage they had inflicted remained, and only the phenomenon of recovery by the GM had been canceled.
The army of the Kingdom of Light was now in a state of utter devastation, barely able to maintain its fighting strength.
This was precisely why Takuto and Atou could afford to engage in their seemingly inappropriate, light-hearted exchange. This was no longer a battlefield where they needed to remain on guard.
"Gah..."
"What is it, Takuto?!"
Just as Takuto said the rest would be a mere formality, he suddenly clutched his head, making a gesture as if enduring a severe headache.
Atou noticed immediately, her expression turning pale as she propped up his shoulder, observing his condition.
"No, it's just a little... I may have pushed it too far."
It was a gesture he had briefly shown before when transforming into Fremain.
The power to mimic any form. Its ability to even replicate the game system itself could wield truly incomparable strength depending on how it was used.
Its applicability was infinite, and in the hands of the adept Takuto, it would make him unstoppable. But that very power, which would surely wreak havoc in a manner distinct from Atou's ability theft, could not have been wielded without any risk.
"Takuto! Did you perhaps... for my sake!?"
"No, well, yes, but..."
Atou immediately grasped that fact.
How much trouble his lord had gone through to help him.
How much of a burden he had felt.
That all of it... had been done for his sake.
"Lord Takutooooo!"
Atou burst into tears. Like a child, he blubbered while throwing his arms around Takuto.
Seeing his own clothes soaked with snot and tears, Takuto seemed to have some second thoughts after all. He gently extricated himself from Atou, making sure not to hurt him.
"There, there, it's okay. Besides, we're still technically on a battlefield, so let's separate."
"Atou, over here."
"Recovered!"
"Ahh! Such insolence!"
In perfect sync, the Elfull sisters took Atou away.
They must have thought it wouldn't do any good to let this awkward romantic display continue. They wanted to get it over with quickly and go home. That was the honest, unvarnished truth in both their hearts.
"All right, let's clean up and head back. I'm a bit tired and want to rest."
With a lighthearted tone, as if they'd just finished a camping trip with friends, Takuto issued his command.
The sacred beings were mostly wounded and fallen, and this nation's people were still being tormented by the plague and amnesia scattered by the twin girls at this very moment.
Yet for Takuto, perhaps even this was just another fleeting scene in the everyday.
For he is... the Lord of Ruin.
"Yes, yes, Elder Mortar. Would you command everyone to assemble at once?"
"Understood. Let us summon our subordinates immediately."
If Brave Questus's technique could summon armies here, then the reverse should also be possible.
Seeing Takuto begin preparing to leave as if ignoring them entirely, Erakino—who remained behind—screamed as if refusing to acknowledge her defeat.
"It's not—it's not over yet!"
But unfortunately, it was already over.
"Guh!"
"Really, did you think it wasn't over yet?"
Before his subordinates could intercept the lunging Erakino, Takuto kicked her away. He raised a hand to restrain his followers and slowly walked toward her.
...A large hole gaped in Erakino's abdomen, and one of her hands had rotted away.
These were fatal wounds inflicted initially by Takuto, who had assumed the form of Soarina.
Since the GM had unjustly restored them without reason, it was only natural that those injuries had returned.
"The GM's presence has already vanished. Probably... they've lost the means to interfere with us. Not being able to finish them off directly is a bit unsettling, but if they won't come down here, there's nothing we can do."
Erakino gasped, her breaths dry and shallow.
Perhaps because she was a witch, or perhaps because she was a vital character within the game...
Her life force still lingered, keeping her in this world, but from her appearance it was clear that her flame of life would soon be extinguished.
"You are... ultimately just a TRPG character. All your power is exercised under the grace of that system. With the GM's authority revoked, even if you were uninjured, you could not continue living."
As if explaining to one who was ignorant, Takuto looked down at Erakino and laid out her reality.
Of course, Erakino did not need to be told such things to understand.
That was precisely why I fixed Takuto with a gaze sharp with loathing and hurled insults in place of an answer.
"You piece of shit... you parasitic little wretch who only knows how to brag while borrowing others' power! Keep it up, and someday... someday I'll kill you!"
Takuto, who had intended to ignore those words just as he had before, instead suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"Ahahahaha! It's hilarious how you say something so ridiculous, when everyone here, every single one of us, is only borrowing power from something else. Don't tell me you think you're the exception? After all the shit you did using the GM's power! What is that even supposed to mean? Hah? Ahahahahahaha!"
He doubled over, clutching his stomach as if he'd just witnessed top-tier comedy.
This sudden display was so bizarrely eerie that even his subordinates, who had been watching the situation unfold, were visibly shaken.
"Ah—this wasn't the scene for laughing, was it. My mistake. I'm not really good at these things."
The laughter stopped as abruptly as it began.
With a look of mild discomfort, he scratched his head and let his gaze drift to the subordinates waiting behind him.
The subordinates, who felt compelled to bow for reasons they didn't understand, did so naturally. Meanwhile, Atou, having somehow broken free from the twins' restraint, quietly approached.
"Takuto..."
"Ah, Atou... Hmm, yes. Hmm, hmm."
"Ta-Takuto?"
Watching Atou approach with such worry in her eyes, Takuto seemed to ponder something, humming thoughtfully to himself. Unable to read his intentions at all, Atou couldn't help but feel anxious, wondering if she had somehow made a misstep.
But contrary to her expectations, what Takuto had been mulling over was something utterly out of left field.
"No, I was just thinking a little. I felt so sad when Atou was taken from me, and I realized I haven't gotten my payback yet. It wouldn't be fair if I didn't settle that score properly, right?"
"...Huh? Se-settle the score?"
That's right.
He answered curtly, then fell into thought once more.
Atou knows all too well that Takuto is the type to ruthlessly crush and utterly break those who oppose him without a shred of mercy.
In "Eternal Nations," he showed no quarter to rivals who deviated from playing the game fairly, resorting to profanity or bad manners.
This obsessive streak had always been a part of him.
Naturally, hearing those words, Erakino refused to stay silent.
She clung to her fading life, mustering her final resistance against an outcome she would never accept.
"Who the hell would wag their tail for a shut-in freak like you?! Go bury your face in Atou's chest and choke on your own bliss, you damn—"
But had she forgotten?
Her opponent was none other than Takuto Ira.
"A question for the system. Does the vacant Game Master's authority still remain?"
"—Huh?"
==SystemMessage===
The session is ongoing.
The Game Master is currently unassigned.
---
The system sends back its answer.
In this instant, Atou finally understands the full extent of his master's objective.
There was certainly a purpose to save him—that was undoubtedly true, given his relationship with Takuto.
But it didn't end there. Takuto's thoughts did not run that shallow.
Therefore, everything until now had been a pretense, and his earlier display of troubled hesitation was merely one part of the performance.
"—Then it should be alright if I take that authority, right?"
After all, everything had been meticulously prepared for this very moment.
Takuto began speaking, raising his voice more than usual so everyone could hear him.
"Up until now, I have always played the game properly according to the rulebook... Well, I've really only rolled the dice a handful of times, but I certainly followed the rules. It was fair and didn't tolerate cheating, and there were no disruptive outbursts or any behavior that would disturb the circle. I'm a truly exemplary player."
Takuto continued his words.
It was as if he were making an appeal to the system itself, but for those who understood, it was clearly directed at Erakino, and perhaps at Takuto himself, who might still be watching this situation from somewhere.
"How about it? I submit a proposal to the system. Propose setting Takuto Ira as the Game Master."
=SystemMessage===
Proposal accepted. Granting GM privileges to Takuto Ira.
New Game Master. Please enjoy the ultimate gaming experience.
―――
Here, the worst possible player for the opponent was born: a leader of the "Eternal Nations" and the Game Master of the Elemental World.
"Erakino, was it? It's your turn next. Well, a lot happened, but let's get along as comrades from now on."
Takuto put on a bright smile and beamed at him.
But that smile felt frivolous and empty, devoid of any real emotion.
"After all, you see? I'm the type who always returns the favor."
"St—Stop—"
=GM:Message===
Exercising GM privileges.
Resetting Erakino's administrative authority.
Place the new Game Master, Takuto Ira, in administration.
———
Then, without a shred of hesitation, and having just praised it as fair and exemplary, he began to swing the power of that "Arbiter" without restraint—and, abruptly:
■■■■■ ===
A piece seizing authority given by God is a violation of the rules.
Judgment—divine punishment will be administered.
———
The world stops.
A space of something utterly alien wraps around Takuto, and an alarm bell rings from the very depths of his soul.
As Takuto realizes he has stepped into a place he must never enter and frantically tries to think of a countermeasure:
■■■■■ ===
A chaotic, incomprehensible collision of corrupted data erupts, weaving and unraveling in a space that distorts reality.
Rejected.
———
With a sharp crack that feels like the collision of immense, otherworldly sound and power…
The world regains its motion.
"Ugh! …Tch."
Takuto vaguely senses that some exchange occurred at a higher dimension—one beyond his comprehension.
Understanding the gravity of the crisis, he clicks his tongue in frustration.
"Inquiry to the system. I want to confirm the situation."
The response that had been surfacing in his mind until now was answered by the system's continued silence.
"...So even that was impossible after all."
Takuto shifted his consciousness, deciding he would have to change his approach more cautiously going forward. He had planned to use the game system as he pleased, but it seemed he had reached for territory he should not have ventured into, far beyond even Keiji's boundaries.
His original objective had ended in failure.
But the minimum goal of retrieving Atou had been achieved, and moreover, he had managed to learn a fair amount about the strange conflict taking place in this world.
If evaluating the results, well, it was a passing grade, at least.
"In that case, this is no longer needed."
If so, there was no more use for a place like this.
Takuto drew an absurdly oversized revolver from within his coat, pointed the muzzle at Erakino.
"Erakino!!"
"You can't come, Soarina!"
The exhausted Soarina cried out, trying to help her friend.
But having repeatedly performed miracles and worn down her spirit against immense evil, she had no strength left to fight. Leaning on her holy staff just to stand upright was the most she could manage.
"Run. You can't beat this guy. Even if you come, he'll kill you for sure. Run."
Erakino... realized her own defeat and approaching end, and smiled weakly at Soarina.
She was finished here. Without a Game Master, as Takuto Ira said, turning things around from this point was impossible.
Moreover, if he were given time here, he would certainly plot to torment them again with unforeseen means.
Therefore, before that happened, Erakino only wanted her to escape.
"... Strange. The game should have reset, but Soarina's Slurp hasn't lifted. Is there some hidden rule at work?"
Conversely, Takuto regarded this situation with the detached curiosity of a scientist observing a lab animal. All effects that would benefit them through the game system should have been negated. That meant Erakino's Slurp - her brainwashing ability - should have been undone as well.
Yet their friendship seemed to persist, and this filled him with intense suspicion.
"Atou, too..."
Moreover, it wasn't just Erakino and Soarina.
"Atou also hesitated for a moment before killing this one. Why?"
Atou, too, had shown a certain consideration toward them. Given her original personality, the moment the brainwashing lifted, she should have flown into a rage and attacked the Holy Maidens. Instead, Atou showed no such attitude, patiently awaiting Takuto's commands.
He knew her loyalty well, which made this all the more puzzling.
"Eh!? No... I am Lord Takuto's faithful servant! I-I would never...!"
"Really? Somehow, I don't quite believe you."
She had been struck in a sore spot. Atou flustered visibly. Even though her affiliation should have reverted, she was still struggling with these unfamiliar feelings toward Erakino and the others, unsure of what to do with them.
Of course, as Mynoghra's hero, if given the order, she would discard all sentiment and kill Erakino without hesitation. But the mere fact that there was sentiment to discard was the problem.
"—It is feelings."
The one who answered Takuto's unspoken question was an unexpected person.
She had been Soarina, the Sacred Maiden of the Grand Burial.
"What is that?"
Takuto asked, his tone somewhat unpleasant.
Having arrived at Erakino's side at some point, she looked after her friend with concern, but still turned a strong gaze toward Takuto, as one who must speak.
"No matter how much power you wield, there are things you can never overturn. The feelings of the human heart are never truly shattered. Just as Atou, who swore loyalty to you, continued to think of you even after becoming our comrade, the love that all life possesses is eternal and indestructible."
Those words made Takuto smirk.
But the fact that he listened without interrupting suggested he found some small truth in them.
"Soarina..."
"I was saved by Erakino. Her brightness gave me courage. It was because of her that I remembered how to walk by my own will, and came to sincerely wish for this country's betterment. That feeling, no matter what forces may have been at work, cannot be undone. So—"
But Takuto Ira was not the sort of man to be that patient.
"So stop talking about yourself."
He was, above all, not a man interested in others.
*BANG!*
"Erakino!!"
A sharp crack, like a firecracker bursting, rang out as a bullet pierced Erakino's heart.
The life that was already fading was forcibly extinguished, and here one witch met her end.
"Soarina... run. You at least, live..."
"Erakino! Erakino! Why, why did it come to this! Aahh!!"
With her last remaining strength, she conveyed her farewell to her dearest friend.
As the life in her arms dissolved away, Soarina spilled large tears, calling her friend's name amidst sobs.
"Love and feelings and all that complicated stuff—it's hard to understand when you say it. I'm a bit tired right now, so maybe I'll think about it again later."
Even after seeing the Saintess like that, Takuto muttered with clear disinterest.