On an exceptional basis, we were allowed to act as investigative teams.
But that doesn't mean that the Crusaders will wait to fight Illis.
Get ready to fight Illis...
If Illis showed up, he would enter the fight immediately.
How difficult it would be to deal with so many adventurers and knights, no matter how Iris.
An Illis with a thousand powers, but limited in strength and magic.
More than fighting alone, sooner or later, the limit comes.
And... they'll talk about it.
Before that happens, I have to stop Iris.
Instead of killing it, we have to stop Illis, with the method of sealing it.
Fight time.
We have to hurry.
"Whoa, Rain!
The meeting is over, after the tent...
We were just about to go back to the inn where everyone was waiting, and Axe stopped us.
Well... can't you just let me go quietly like this?
I didn't tell Axe and Cell anything.
Stop your legs and face Axe and Cell.
"What you were saying at the meeting, are you serious?
"Looking for a way to seal Illis, you mean?
"Oh, that's it. Are you serious?
"I mean it."
"Why not?
Axe looked harsh.
"The other guy is a demon. Destroyed the village and killed a lot of people. If I kept him alive like that, the same thing would definitely happen again. The same grief will be scattered. Is that all right, you!?
Axe may have something on his mind.
I've been asking him when he's hot and in strong shape.
There the cell interrupts.
"Calm down."
"But hey!
"Just calm down. At Axe right now, we can't discuss this calmly. First of all, we need to hear what happened to the Rains... right?
"... Okay, I get it"
Axe pulls back because of the reluctance.
Instead, Cell pointed her sober eyes this way.
"I know what Rayne thinks. I'm not convinced... but I understand."
"Oh well."
"But how did you get to that idea? Above made the decision to crusade the devil. Besides, you can't just leave those beings alone, you know? Yet Rayne dares to take the hand of sealing. Why is that?
"It's..."
"Can you tell me why?
I've come this far and I'll keep my mouth shut...... what a choice I can't make.
How do these two react?
That, in a way, is predictable...
I was ready to tell you what happened last night.
"Actually..."
The past of Illis.
The source of Iris' hatred.
Talk about them...
Then I told him what I thought.
I don't want to kill you, but I can't leave you alone.
So at the very least, stop Illis in the form of sealing it.
That's how I help Illis.
I told you what I was thinking, what I was thinking, everything.
"... I see"
Cell was calmly taking my story.
But Axe...
"I don't know about you...... sympathy for your enemies. What are you gonna do!?
I was angry.
Axe was angry at me for touching Iris' emotions and dyeing them.
That's a face I've never seen before.
I know very well that you are seriously coming to your head.
"They're killing a bunch of people!? You think that's acceptable because you've seen terrible things in the past!?
"Wouldn't be forgiven."
"I see...!
"But if you were to say that, you wouldn't forgive me for killing my family, my master, would you?
"That's... but it would have been done by idiots from the past!
Axe is right.
You're right...
The right theory everywhere sometimes leaves emotions behind.
I give the answer without emotion.
But we're people.
Because I have feelings.
I really think about the mind of Illis.
"Are you gonna leave him like that? I'm telling you, there's no possibility of a change. I can assure you. He kills people again."
"I know. I agree with you there."
"Then..."
"So I take a method called sealing. Because I don't want Illis to sin any more... because I don't want him to die... seal Illis"
"Such a selfish thing..."
"Oh, yeah. This is my selfishness. I don't want Iris to die, it's my selfishness."
"Eh... we're not talking about it!
Axe kicked the ground in frustration.
I'm sorry to make you act like that...
Still, I can't give in.
"... one, okay?
Now the cell opened its mouth.
"Let's just say... Rain and the others are the devils... and while we can't find a way to seal Illis, he's rammed up again. And suppose you killed someone. In that case, can you take responsibility?
"... I can't take it"
"You understand there. Still, Rayne doesn't change his mind?
"I won't change"
I ran out of words to show my will.
"If we're going to talk about responsibility, we... people have to take responsibility for Illis. Don't do that. You can't just admit you killed him."
"They're killers, aren't they?
"But it's people's fault that it happened. I deserve it too."
"Do you really think it's worth helping?
"I don't care about value. I just want to."
"Why are you so upset?"
"So, what did I just say? This is my selfishness."
I don't want you to feel any more bitter about Illis.
I've seen a lot of terrible things before...
Can I give you a break?
Is that what you think it shouldn't be?
"Phew."
Cell spilled his exhale.
That's...
It's a separate exhalation from ours, including the color of giving up.
"... ok. Rain and the others can do whatever they want."
"Hey, Cell! Are you asking me to forgive you like this!?
"You don't have a choice. Because you have such a strong will. Besides, do you think we can force Rayne and the others? How do you think you can do this by empowering a lot of the strongest species and the Rains who are following them?
"It's..."
"You can't, can you? Then I'll have to leave you alone."
Say so...
Cell, one step back.
The distance between me and the cell seems endless.
It's just one step different...
Instinctively, I realized that the distance was something that could not be filled by whatever I did.
"The Rains should do whatever they want. We won't stop."
"Thanks"
"But... we can't help."
"... well"
"Oh, right. Cell's right. We can't stay with Rayne any longer."
It was a declaration of separation.
... I expected this to happen.
The two are first-rate adventurers.
I live to ensure that I abide by what is called a contract, and also to ensure that I obey the orders of the organization.
I thought it was unlikely that those two would be on my side.
That's what I was thinking...
Shit, there's something I miss when goodbyes are in front of me.
It's a short time, but we're buddies who traveled together.
To have company away... after all, I miss you.
"Say goodbye here. It's been a while, but it's been fun."
"I had fun, too."
"Nyah... thank you"
Canade, who had been silent until now to see how things were going, shrugged in a puffy manner, feeling like she was stuck.
Canade, too, seems to have forgiven the both of us for something, and she seems lonely.
"We'll go our way... but we'll take care of Rayne and the others."
"Damn... you're so beautiful. I'm sorry, I can't go out with you."
"This is going to be a goodbye, so why don't you say a more decent greeting?
"I don't know what to say to these people."
Axe looked complicated, though he didn't.
Words say tough things, but still, you care about us.
... It's like breaking up with these two, and my chest hurts.
Still.
I decided to walk forward.
I decided to save Illis.
So don't give me the look of regret...
I offered my hand so that I could walk forward.
"See you."
"... oh"
"Good luck with each other"
Shake hands with Axe and Cell...... gently, I let go of my hand.
And our bond with Axe and Cell was broken.