﻿\setgamedatatitle("True Radiant Wing Tower\nLayer 2")

\text("Honju")
I'm sorry, Caym-sama. Even though I was with you...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
It can't be helped. No matter who was there, the result
wouldn't have changed.
\endtext

\text
Caym replied as he held his head, while Honju knelt and
bowed his head.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Damn you, Verlnya...
\endtext

\text
Grinding his molars, Caym pictured Verlnya in his mind.

\endtext

\text
―From last night to this morning, there were reports of
numerous deaths within the Hados territory.

\endtext

\text
Shuka, Kiros, Hados... In just one night, hundreds of people
were killed.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
But there haven't been any reports of angels appearing,
right? How did they...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
It means they didn't need to use angels to kill humans. Most
likely, they used that suggestion technique.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
There's a report from Glace-san and Gunter-san, who went to
Kiros.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What is it?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
There were several dozen deaths in each city... Most of them
were elderly and young women, apparently.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
It's about the same in Shuka. That's what's so strange about
it...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Strange... how?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
If it was meant as a threat to force surrender, wiping out
an entire city would be more effective.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
And yet, the number killed doesn't even reach a thousand in
total... just old men, old women, and young women...

\endtext

\text("Honju")
It's clear they targeted them, but then why not soldiers or
men? That's what I don't get.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
So there's another reason besides intimidation...?

\endtext

\text
Honju gave a small nod.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
And the number of dead is almost the same everywhere―that's
also odd.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
............
\endtext

\text
It's about Structa.
\endtext

\text
If you asked why, they'd probably say it's to keep Nilt from
being destroyed...

\endtext

\text
But if that's the case, they could've just destroyed
Diabolica from the start.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
It's not a massacre... They killed the same number in each
place... No, they reduced the number...?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Reduced... as in, to keep Nilt from being destroyed?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
They only want to destroy Diabolica... Maybe they don't want
to wipe out humans, just reduce their numbers?

\endtext

\text("Honju")
So they're thinning us out... is that it?

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...It's not exactly a pleasant thought.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hmm... Risbell, strengthen the security in each city. I
doubt this is the end of it.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Understood.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
As soon as Glace returns, we'll launch another assault on
the Tower of Radiant Wings.
\endtext

\text
With both this incident and the matter of Structa, we can't
afford to take our time anymore.

\endtext

\text
Last time, she never showed up in the end, but this time
I'll confront her directly.
\endtext

\text
Not just her body and mind. I'll trample everything―her
reasons for fighting, her beliefs, everything.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...Are you going to Berna-sama?

\endtext

\text
The faint rumble shaking the labyrinth is the signal for the
Demon Lord's army to march out.
\endtext

\text
Minerva gazed absentmindedly up at the ceiling―but she
couldn't bring herself to stand.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...What am I even doing?
\endtext

\text
What would Berna think if she saw me like this?

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...She wouldn't think anything. That person doesn't have any
unnecessary functions like that...

\endtext

\text
But that doesn't mean it's okay to stay like this.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Berna-sama...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...If you want to see her that badly, I could let you, you
know?
\endtext

\text
―Minerva, lowering her gaze, froze in place.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
You...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Don't tell Caym, okay? He'd get mad at me.

\endtext

\text
Beatrice wondered what she was even doing as she unlocked
the cell door.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
This is the first time we've really talked, isn't it?
Minerva.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
What are you up to...?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Hey, do you still think what you did was right?


\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...Th-that's...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...You know, Caym―
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Caym plans to confront Berna.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Her... no, Structa's true intentions―where they really lie.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...Our true intentions...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Don't you want to know too?
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
............
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I'll leave this open. Once you're ready, decide for yourself
what to do.

\endtext

\text
Saying that, Beatrice turned on her heel.
\endtext

\text
――Seriously, what am I even doing?
\endtext

\text
I was planning to throw in a snide remark about how the
Demon Lord's army would win again next time...
\endtext

\text
But seeing her face like that, so troubled, I just couldn't
bring myself to do it.
\endtext

\text
The rest is up to her heart.
\endtext

\text
If she chooses to return to Verlnya, then I'll just have to
deal with her myself.
\endtext

\text
....................
\endtext

\text
............
\endtext

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...You still haven't given up, have you?
\endtext

\text
Waiting for Caym and the others as they arrived at the first
layer was Verlnya.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Another illusion... Well, whatever. I'll drag you out in
front of me soon enough.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...That's impossible. Unlike Minerva, I don't have a vessel
that allows me to manifest here.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I don't care about your circumstances. You did whatever you
wanted in my country―did you really think you'd get away
with it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Why did you do something like that? I thought your enemy was
supposed to be us, the Demon Lord's army.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
The increase in humanity is also a factor in this land's
destruction.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
To be precise... The development of Nilt is not desirable
for us.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Especially if it's at the hands of Diabolica.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...So basically, you just don't like Caym and the others,
right?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
I can't comprehend the meaning of those words.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...What do you mean? Do you really not understand, or are
you just picking a fight?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
We are simply pulling the reins to stabilize this world,
nothing more.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Change, progress, decline―none of it is necessary. That way
of being is incompatible with us.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
In that case, it's only natural to eliminate it.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...!
\endtext

\text
About to deny everything she said, Magahime fell silent.

\endtext

\text
She realized it would be pointless to argue.
\endtext

\text
Verlnya has no emotions, judging everything solely by her
own logic.
\endtext

\text
Showing emotion to someone like her is just a waste of time.

\endtext

\text
There's no way she'd understand our side... No, she can't
understand it.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...It's not even worth arguing anymore. It's more productive
to just take that woman down quickly.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...Why do you insist on fighting so much? All you're doing
is spilling unnecessary blood and causing chaos in this
land.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Anyone can see the Demon Lord's army is nothing but a
menace.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Do I really need to answer that?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
............
\endtext

\text("Caym")
For now, step aside.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...How foolish.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I don't care. There are still things I want to ask you. If
we win this fight, you'll answer them.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
All troops, advance to the second layer and secure it!

\endtext