﻿\setgamedatatitle("Final Chapter: Throne of Emptiness\nDepth 2 Conquered")

\text("Caym")
Alright... looks like we've finished securing the area.
\endtext

\text
Caym scans the surroundings and lowers his guard.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Hey, Caym. I feel like there were more Yumekui this time
than before.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah... Nee-san, Minerva?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Maybe it just means they're that much hungrier.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
They'll probably keep increasing. And of course, so will the
victims...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Little by little, huh. The previous civilization was
wiped out in a single night, wasn't it?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...This time, the timing of their awakening is different,
and more importantly, we're interfering.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...If that's the case, things could get dangerous if we let
more time pass.
\endtext

\text("Noro")
...Why's that?
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Try fasting for a week. What do you think you'll do the next
day?
\endtext

\text("Noro")
..................I'd eat until I die. Ah...

\endtext

\text
Normally, the feeding would be over in a single night.
\endtext

\text
But this time, the King of Slumber awoke at a completely
different time than before...
\endtext

\text
And on top of that, their feeding is being interfered with.
\endtext

\text
Naturally, as the days go by, the hunger gets worse. The
worse it gets, the more they eat at once―and the more
Yumekui appear.
\endtext

\text
In the worst case, just like the legend says, everything
could be devoured in a single night.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(The question is, how long can the King of Slumber endure
this hunger...?)
\endtext

\text("Agri")
...Boss, looks like someone's finally decided to show up.

\endtext

\text
Just before he could sink into thought, Caym snapped back to
himself at Agri's words.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Perfect timing. I just thought of something I want to ask
you, Rudol.

\endtext

\text("Rudol")
...Ugh... fading... I'm... fading away...

\endtext

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

\text
―Again. Once again, Rudol is acting strange.

\endtext

\text
In the first place, it doesn't even seem like Rudol has
noticed them.
\endtext

\text
With one hand on the wall and clutching his head, Rudol
staggers toward them unsteadily.

\endtext

\text("Rudol")
Ugh... Who... are you people...?
\endtext

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

\text
It wasn't just his behavior that was strange.
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
No... that's not it, you guys are... the Demon Lord's
army... damn it, why... why can't I remember...?

\endtext

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

\text("Rudol")
I am of Lusario... of God... ughhh...!

\endtext

\text
Rudol clutched his head and collapsed on the spot.

\endtext

\text
Even faced with Caym and the others, his enemies, Rudol
groaned that he 'couldn't remember.'
\endtext

\text
Anyone could see he was delirious, and everyone in the Demon
Lord's army was at a loss.
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Rudol...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...In that state, I doubt leaving him be will cause any
problems.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
After I cut him down, he fell. Then, he was eaten by the
King of Slumber...
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...We don't know why, but he came out from inside the King
of Slumber...?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
The King of Slumber gave birth to a ton of spawn right after
waking up, remember?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Maybe he managed to get out along with the spawn at that
time.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...He can't remember because his memories and emotions are
still being devoured by the King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text
By some stroke of luck, Rudol was spat out.
\endtext

\text
However, it seems the connection to the King of Slumber
hasn't been severed.
\endtext

\text
So even after escaping, his memories and emotions are still
being slowly stolen away.
\endtext

\text("Rudol")
Ugh... ahh... who... are you... I...

\endtext

\text("El")
Caym-sama...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...He can't fight like that. We're leaving.
\endtext

\text
If he's going to self-destruct eventually, there's no need
to kill him here and now.
\endtext

\text
Left behind, Rudol will eventually lose all memory and
emotion, and finally disappear from this world for good.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
.........
\endtext

\text
Beatrice glanced at Rudol, then turned on her heel.

\endtext

\text
It's not that she felt nothing for him.

\endtext

\text
No one understands the fate of those devoured by the King of
Slumber better than Beatrice.
\endtext

\text
That's why―she said nothing.
\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text
Returning to the labyrinth, Risbell flopped down onto the
sofa.
\endtext

\text
There's still work left to do.
\endtext

\text
There's the big goal of defeating the King of Slumber, but
that doesn't mean our regular work just disappears.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Thirty minutes... no, just an hour...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Why don't you sleep in your own room?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I won't sleep. If I do, you'll definitely mess with me.
You, specifically.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Hehe, unfortunately, that's not why I came here.

\endtext

\text
And of course, that doesn't mean all the trouble goes away
either.
\endtext

\text
Especially when the very person who brings that trouble is
right in front of you.
\endtext

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

\text("Beatrice")
No, it's fine. You look tired, so tomorrow is fine.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, if it's just talking, I don't mind.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Really? Then maybe I'll take you up on that. Sooner is
better if possible.
\endtext

\text
It's not something to worry about at this point anyway.
\endtext

\text
Risbell rubs her heavy eyelids but straightens her posture.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Ris, I have a favor to ask.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
If it's something I can do, anything is fine.

\endtext

\text
Why the sudden formality, I wonder.
\endtext

\text
With her head still foggy, Risbell waits for Beatrice's next
words.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Yeah. It's about Caym.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Is there something about Caym-sama?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Well. I want you to stay by his side, always, from now
on.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Isn't that obvious? I mean, if I'm not there, who would
assist Caym-sama...?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...That's part of it, but I mean as a woman...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes, of course I... wait, what?
\endtext

\text
――Did she just say what I think she said?
\endtext

\text
She didn't say it out loud, but Risbell's face made it
clear.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I mean both in public and private. Oh, or would it be easier
if I just said 'be his wife'?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
W-wi... What are you suddenly sayinggg!!

\endtext

\text
Her drowsiness vanished in an instant.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Isn't that easier to understand? Not that I'm saying you
have to actually get married, okay? It's up to Caym.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
But I'd be really happy if it turned out that way.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I-I... well, I mean, I have thought about it, but, um, why
are you bringing this up all of a sudden...?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Because, it's almost time, right? Until we defeat the King
of Slumber.
\endtext

\text
The words 'King of Slumber' finally brought Risbell's mind
back to calm.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Come to think of it, I haven't thought at all about what
comes after that...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
That's why, even just a little, I'd like you to think about
it.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice had a gentle smile on her face.

\endtext

\text
And yet, for just a moment, she looked a little lonely. Or
was it just my imagination?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
You don't have to seriously think about marriage or
anything. It was just an example...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
But when I thought about who I could trust with him... you
were the first one who came to mind, Riz.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
That... makes me happy.
\endtext

\text
I'm happy, but... with that look on her face, I can't just
be glad.
\endtext

\text
It's almost as if―
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Please leave Caym-sama to me.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Yeah, I'm glad. I knew you'd say that, Riz.


\endtext

\text
―It's almost like she's saying goodbye.
\endtext

\text
So please, don't smile at me like that, looking so happy.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Well, that's all I needed. I'm sleepy too, so I'll head back
to my room.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Good night, Riz.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah... um...
\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
...No, it's nothing. Good night.
\endtext

\text
With anxiety still in her heart... Risbell said that and saw
Beatrice off.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice turned her back and left the office.
\endtext

\text
Her figure looked so small, as if she might disappear at any
moment and go somewhere far away.
\endtext