26

Berta woke up just after the corpse dragon left.

He shakes his head still hazy with a concussion and groans.

They were losing consciousness.

I was unconscious, even though I could not demonstrate my original strength because I had hidden my true appearance and participated in the operation accompanying the expedition.

"What...?

I don't know the situation.

When I asked without anyone, there was someone who turned to me.

"... Berta"

He was Takahiro Mashima, the leader of his companion.

He was so hurt to wake himself up at last.

The people around us looked terrible.

Lily was too damaged to hide the nature of the slime.

Robbia had a squeaky face with massive amounts of blood and tears flowing from her head.

Silan remains down, just like a corpse.

Ayako seems to have a broken leg and was lying weak.

It was clear that something terrible had happened.

But I couldn't immediately remember what happened before I lost consciousness.

"This place..."

On the verge of saying it, Berta realized that she was now on the palm of the king's pawn, the corpse dragon.

What the hell happened while I was losing my mind?

Takahiro Mashima replied to the increasingly confusing Berta.

"Shortly after we escaped from the other world, Kojiro Nakatsuki attacked us."

"... attack?

Berta explored her memory when she was told.

After being freed from the otherworlds, my memory is broken where everyone on this occasion has gathered.

At that moment, I felt like I saw an intense light.

I guess that was the blow of the light sword.

So he lost consciousness and, being a companion, they were severely injured by the impossibility of continuing the fight.

But then how could he have escaped like this?

Besides, this situation that was put on the corpse dragon, what the hell.

When I wondered so, Takahiro Mashima said with a faded face.

"The Kudo one broke in."

"... Huh?

"Now, instead, he's still here."

"Does that mean... that my king and that 'sword of light' are fighting?

At the moment of understanding, the blurred consciousness became clear.

I had a chill.

No matter how powerful the King's Demon Army is, that 'Sword of Light' is too evil for his opponent.

The king's life is in danger.

When he thought so, Berta was exercising his true power, which he was usually ordered to hide.

From around the wolf's hips, the girl's body grows as she drifts.

For a little while, I became defenseless, so I couldn't show my true nature during the earlier battle, but now there are no signs of enemies nearby.

If you think that's also because the king is fighting, the rush recruited more and more.

"Ma... wait. Berta!"

He soon found out that he was about to jump out, and Takahiro Mashima raised her voice on the way to changing her flesh.

"Don't stop!

"You're just going to die! At least we..."

That's what I said and got myself on, that knee broke.

Losing his balance, he falls with his hands on the floor.

A hasty lily tries to rush over, but the motion to strain her body when she drifts is bitter.

They weren't in a decent state to move anymore.

"Berta......"

Still, I was desperately looking this way.

Berta now knows that the eye is directed at her companions.

We're buddies, so we can't just shut up and watch them go to a certain place to die.

"... Takahiro Mashima"

So Berta did learn to patrol.

The fact was nothing more than an indication of what she herself perceived them as companions.

Nevertheless, I don't want to get to my feet.

To do so, the king's presence was too great in Berta.

But it was then.

"Wait."

The cold voice of a third party completely put Berta's legs together this time.

Because that voice was the only one who could hold her back, a spokesperson.

"You are not allowed to go to the king. That's the king's order."

That's what I said was a young man with an inorganic look that didn't suit his stern face.

Precisely, it was that mess.

"Anton!?

I copied Tatsuya the cross, Anton's split was there.

"When..."

"I've been on board since the beginning"

Anton answers Takahiro Mashima, who asks surprisingly.

It would have been easier to let the corpse dragon pre-board the split than it was under the same king.

But more than that, it was now communicated.

"Oh, that's the king's order...!?

Berta was greatly upset.

If they say it's royal life, she can't ignore it when she's collared.

"That's stupid... the king's life is in danger! Withdraw now...!

"It's no use. There can't be any withdrawal."

I protest desperately, but Anton's expression didn't change.

In fact, the imposition of the intangible collar by the King's "King of the Demon Army" also admitted that it was true.

Stunned.

I didn't know what that meant.

I knew the king was keeping himself away, and sometimes he made decisions he didn't seem reasonable at times.

But that's not what I'm saying right now.

Though I learned all sorts of things under Takahiro Mashima, it doesn't make the king worthless to me.

King on his way to the ruin of despair.

Then at least I want there to be salvation at the end of it.

That's what you think, but you can't tell.

I don't get it.

Even what I felt might be acceptable is too far now.

As it is, it is about to go out of reach forever.

Anton tells me to stab him in the stomach, even though that's enough to make him happy.

The king doesn't want you to come.

As if it were a machine, emotions are not included in the words spoken.

I am reminded of that fact.

The complete subordination the king wanted.

Berta ate too many teeth because she was reminded that this was what she couldn't even be.

"Still, I'm going."

"… Berta, you"

"We have to go."

I can't do it.

I can't be the complete pawn the king wants.

So, yeah.

Even here, you can't possibly retreat.

The compulsion of the collar is already painful.

I am reminded that eating down here is disqualified as a king's pawn.

But still.

"Anton!"

Berta sues.

Anton and Berta.

Demon King's subordinate, oldest ginseng glances intersect.

The eye that is directed does not include emotions.

There can be no room for persuasion.

... it was supposed to be.

"Again, this is what happens"

Anton accidentally laid his eyes down.

"That's stupid. I don't understand."

Try Anton, the king's faithful pawn with no emotions, and that would be a natural feeling.

But Berta was confused.

Because that's not all Anton's words felt right now.

"Oh. I don't understand. But there are things I know."

Once again, an inorganic gaze was directed at her like that.

"Berta, you should stay here."

"... Anton?

Berta was not so blunt that she did not realise that the words differed from earlier.

It's not the same story as being allowed to go and being told I should be here.

In fact, pale Anton continued.

"Come on, you should notice. No. I thought you noticed it somewhere in your head. From the beginning, you're just in the wrong place. My king didn't deserve you."

They say terrible things.

I'm glad to say that's my total denial that I've lived under the king's command.

You can be angry.

Yet there was no rash objection, because that's what I was aware of.

Does the king not deserve himself, or does the king not deserve himself?

Berta learned by being with Takahiro Mashima that such a thing depends on the way she thinks.

And if the king does not deserve him... he will have been in the wrong place the whole time.

It was a fact I didn't want to admit.

But Anton revealed everything pale.

"You were wrong. That means there's where you're supposed to be."

In conclusion so, his gaze was directed at Takahiro Mashima, who is behind Berta.

"You should be in the presence of those who accept you. With a worthy companion, in a new place. You must be there..."

For a moment, as he looked for words, Anton told him.

"Because I guess I'll be happy"

――

Lose the word.

Thoughts stop.

There was an option that I never even thought of.

Be happy in a new place with the right people.

Sure, I feel like I'm one of them.

And then there's what they think.

"Berta:

- Called in, Berta looks back.

I couldn't get up. An injured stop was waking up and looking at me.

Don't go, Berta.

Sniffles.

No, no. Let's stay together.:

The appeal affirms Anton's words.

Because now I can remember the warmth of that yang, when I stopped and the two of us fell asleep as if we were together.

Peaceful, warm.

When it comes to hunting night monsters for power, it's a lie when it comes to saying that I've never felt that living like this might be more suited to sex than spending bloody time.

It was only with the days before that that I had a real sense of what Anton told me about "being happy".

That's not paranoia, it's a future you can get for sure if you reach out.

And a long time ago, anything that held it back was powerless.

……

Berta is aware of the intangible chains on her neck and all over her body.

Ability of the connected 'King of the Demon Army'.

Though admonition, obedience, and even indulgence are inflicted, their strength is not in itself sufficient to connect the present berta.

Ironically, the power I kept asking for for for the king had allowed me to leave the king.

So far this chain has been maintained only as a story of Berta's own good being beneath it.

So, see.

This way, if I get my fangs up right now, that's all I'll smash...

"Have you decided your mind, Berta"

I heard a broken chain slip down my body.

The subordination of the same king meant that Anton seemed to have something to feel.

"Now you're free"

"... oh"

I'm more upset than I thought.

Try it, maybe this is what it is.

Once again, Berta turned her gaze to Takahiro Mashima.

"Berta......"

"Thank you, Takahiro Mashima"

I put all my thoughts into the words.

I really appreciated it.

It was definitely them who gave me the choice here.

The dignity of thinking of someone, the importance of not giving up your wishes, even the warmth of being a yang.

By accompanying them, I learned different things.

Thanks to you, I can tell you that I can make this choice.

So now...

- Goodbye.

"... Huh?

Voices poked at voices, left behind.

I don't give you time to stop.

No. No one would have been able to put it away.

And whosoever was able to hold up Berta with all his might, he was not present here.

The only thing that was put together was the king's order, and the chain had already been crushed.

Throw yourself out of the dragon's palm.

"Berta!"

Only my voice came after me.

I also heard the sad chirping of the fox.

It also turns away in an instant.

I tell him again, "Thank you," though I knew it wouldn't arrive any more.

This was her choice.

There was no power left on the dying corpse dragon to just fly high.

Berta, jumping out of its palms, scaffolded the trees and went down to the ground.

I ran out immediately.

The corpse dragon had not been able to give a great deal of speed.

I can get back to this right away.

Non-standard wolf limbs trampled the ground, creating a stifling velocity.

Soon, the corpse dragon went far.

Warm things keep away.

I miss that terribly.

But there was no regret.

I also thought it was because of them.

I did see the serene happiness ahead of me when I was offered a choice.

But there was no king there.

So... so it was.

Berta decided to rush out.

I wanted to go to the king, even if I was to abandon my days of serenity and happiness.

In the end, that was my truth.

And I was convinced of my thoughts because I got a choice.

It was that certainty that led to the decision to break the king's bondage chain, which was absolute, and the result of shaking off orders, which might have been a somewhat cynical accomplishment.

Of course, Berta understands.

Where one of himself rushed to the king, it wouldn't make any sense.

That man called The Sword of Light is not of that dimension.

The king dies.

In front of what should also be called a vengeance, he dies without being avenged.

The ruin of despair that I knew I would eventually visit is what this is all about.

Berta has so far wanted us to at least have a peaceful end, but that's it too.

On my own, I can't do anything about this situation.

I just rushed and there's just one more body.

I know that.

Still, Berta didn't stop running.

If you abandon your thoughts here, you will abandon your wishes from yourself.

I'm going to abandon that scratched boy.

That's all I can do.

I am beside that boy.

Whatever it is, no matter what happens, I won't give up hope until the last moment.

Berta kept running with all her heart.

Until the earliest moment, I had decided to pierce this thought.

Hang on to your life, and keep flaming your thoughts.

That way, or, would a miracle happen?

... No.

That's impossible.

"-!?

Reality is cruel.

That was something I knew from the time one and one met.

Now again, reality has stripped her of her fangs.

As a white blade that cleaves anything.

If it had been even a moment too late to avoid it, it would have been amputated.

Berta, who was on full sickness, flipped herself out of the attack at the edge of the line.

Tentacles stretched out of his waist, wrapped up and sprayed many times.

Tentacles consisting of tough muscle fibers are not as easy to cut as they should be.

It was a business for the unusual sharpness of slashing lines.

"... this surprised me"

A man was called out to her, who managed to survive.

"What do you mean? I can't believe I'm seeing a dead man's face here."

"You..."

Berta opened her eyes.

What I encountered was a terribly related person for her.

"" Absolute Disconnection "Koji Hibiya...!

He was also being ejected from the other world.

However, he had not joined forces in the battle between Kojiro Nakatsuki and Lu Kudo.

There were other joiners, so the need was weak, and because he himself had suffered quite profound injuries in the battle against Kudo Lu in the other world.

The result was that I was going to have a bowl with Berta here.

There were two other metastasizers on the spot.

They were healing Koji Hibiya's wounds with healing magic when they didn't go to Kojiro Nakatsuki's addition.

Far from perfect, he had recovered to the extent that an act of combat was possible, having been treated ever since he left the other world.

In fact, a sword with no weirdness whatsoever lowered into its hands emits too dangerous a sign.

Here, the man from the cause got stuck.

"I don't even think Nakatsuki-san's enemies will make me go further... but I don't have a reason to dare."

Koji Hibiya covered his sword.

"Didn't expect to slay the same face woman twice"

Cold intentions to kill pushed him, and Berta felt a chill freezing blood all over her body.

Death.

What was in front of me was my own death.

"Is this also causal? Now it's time to make sure you don't get lost and get out."

I felt pain in my flank.

Once by Koji Hibiya, it was a place where Ryumiya was so deeply exposed to death.

At that death, did eating the corpse affect the girl's upper body, which Berta got, resembles her a lot.

You can almost call it a living copy.

And that's why this end feels like an inevitable fate.

"... don't be ridiculous"

- The feeling, Berta rattled her fangs and chewed them up.

"I am not Ryumiya"

It is an illusion such as pain in the flank.

That's not my experience.

It's not fate or anything.

The man in front of you is not his own death.

"I am Berta. That's the second subordination the king has been given a name for!

It was a symbol of its own impudence, a name that even felt like a curse.

But that's how I got here.

I don't just follow.

I'm here as a result of my troubles, my suffering, my encounters, my choices.

Even if it never paid off, all of it was worth it.

That's what I believed.

That's why here she stripped herself of her fangs to death without cowering.

"Get out of there. I must go to the king!