﻿\setgamedatatitle("Final Chapter: Throne of Emptiness\nDepth 3 Conquest 2")

\text
――Various images flicker in and out, changing over and over
again before disappearing.
\endtext

\text
Moments of happiness with family.
\endtext

\text
Innocent times spent playing with friends.
\endtext

\text
The tension and excitement right before heading into battle.
\endtext

\text
All of these are someone else's memories and feelings. They
just flow by, like a muddy torrent.
\endtext

\text
They pass before my eyes and vanish.
\endtext

\text
――I won't be swept away.
\endtext

\text
I used all the magic power I had to keep protecting my self.
\endtext

\text
But even so, there were things I couldn't block out.
\endtext

\text
Within the torrent, something grows stronger and louder with
each passing day, calling out to me.
\endtext

\text
It's not a feeling or a memory. It's something more primal,
an uncontrollable urge.
\endtext

\text
A powerful instinct that burns through my body――
\endtext

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

\text
With a start, Beatrice sat up.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...I'm hungry.
\endtext

\text
Her eyelids felt heavy, and her mind was still hazy.

\endtext

\text
But her body was clearly telling Beatrice it was hungry.

\endtext

\text
It was such an intense hunger, she wondered if she hadn't
eaten anything for days.
\endtext

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

\text
As she tried to move, she suddenly realized this wasn't her
own room.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Ah... I fell asleep with Caym――
\endtext

\text
Remembering that far, she finally realized.

\endtext

\text
There was no reason she should feel hungry. In fact, she had
eaten dinner right after returning to the labyrinth.

\endtext

\text
A glance at the clock showed it was still before dawn, not a
time to be hungry.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...No. That wasn't me just now.

\endtext

\text
That was a dream. But in that pitch-black dream, she had
definitely felt hungry.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
............If it wasn't me, then the answer is obvious...

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...The feeding is about to begin.
\endtext

\text
Realizing what that dream meant, Beatrice let out a sigh and
crawled back under the covers.

\endtext

\text
Then, she hugged the sleeping Caym and tried to fall asleep
again.
\endtext

\text
However, that night, the Mare did not attack again.

\endtext

\text
With lingering unease, she spent the night in Caym's bed.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
In the past few days, the damage in the city and labyrinth
has been decreasing.
\endtext

\text
Incidents of Yumekui appearing and attacking inside the
labyrinth and in the city.
\endtext

\text
But over the past few days... ever since Rudol was defeated,
the situation has gradually started to change.
\endtext

\text
The number of Yumekui, which had been steadily increasing
until then, was now starting to decrease.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
However, judging from the reports from the reconnaissance
team we sent to the underground caverns, we can't let our
guard down.
\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
The spawn inside the caverns are rapidly multiplying... It
seems they're gathering in large numbers at what appears to
be the lowest level.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...So that's the Slumbering King's nest, huh?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I think so. The reason the spawn are increasing is to
prepare for a large-scale feeding...

\endtext

\text
Because of her dream, Beatrice stated this with certainty.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
You have proof?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Yeah. I can't say exactly when, but it's definitely soon. If
the spawn are still increasing...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
When the increase stops, that's the sign the feeding will
begin...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I see. Then, now's our chance.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yes. Before the feeding begins...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Let's throw a party.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No! We need to head out for extermination right away...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
No, we're having it. If we defeat that thing, this battle
will finally be a complete victory for us.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
In other words, this is like a send-off party before the
final battle.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I just hope this doesn't end up being our last happy memory.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Please don't say such ominous things!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh, there's no need to worry. Because we absolutely won't
lose.
\endtext

\text
Even in this situation, Caym was full of confidence.
\endtext

\text
By now, Risbell realized that Caym's confidence came from
his trust in his subordinates.

\endtext

\text
That's exactly why... she had to live up to Caym's
expectations.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Some of the soldiers are probably feeling anxious.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Agri, for example, is actually pretty timid. It's better to
fire them up a bit.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...You're right. Then, let's make it a big one.
Beatrice-san, help us out, please.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Sure. We should call the other girls too.

\endtext

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

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

\text
......
\endtext

\text
The throne room was livelier and more boisterous than ever.

\endtext

\text
With drinks and food, the monsters reached out, chatted, and
burst into laughter.
\endtext

\text
The monsters probably sensed that the next battle would be
the last of this war.

\endtext

\text
So they laughed about the past, talked about the future, and
blew away their worries.
\endtext

\text
Just for this moment, they forgot everything and simply
enjoyed themselves.
\endtext

\text("Monster")
Oh, it's the Demon Lord!
\endtext

\text
Amidst it all, one monster noticed.
\endtext

\text
The star of the night, who had been mingling with the
monsters until now, stood before the throne.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Stay as you are. Just listen with a drink in hand.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Soon, the King of Slumber will begin a massive feast. If
that happens, everyone living in this Nilt will be wiped
out.
\endtext

\text
Caym looked over everyone. Their faces were tense with the
weight of what he'd just said.

\endtext

\text
But then Caym flashed a grin.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
But of course, I have no intention of letting things go his
way.
\endtext

\text
Caym raised his voice even more. It was so deep and
powerful, it seemed to echo through every corner of the
labyrinth.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Before that happens, we―the Demon Lord's Army―will
exterminate that troublesome monster!
\endtext

\text
A murmur of excitement rose up. But mixed in with the
agreement and excitement, there was also a hint of anxiety.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Some of you might be worried. Wondering if we can really
beat a monster like that.

\endtext

\text
Caym met the eyes of those monsters who looked uncertain.


\endtext

\text("Caym")
We can win. You are strong.
\endtext

\text
Looking into their eyes, Caym spoke with even more
conviction.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Because you are the elite who fought against Lusario, Shuka,
Kiros... and even defeated that Structa!

\endtext

\text
Ooooh! This time, the voices were even more fired up than
before.
\endtext

\text
Even those who had looked anxious were starting to get
excited by Caym's words and the energy around them.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Think about it. We even defeated Structa, who came from
another world, didn't we?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
There's no way we'd lose to some monster that's just been
napping in a hole!
\endtext

\text
Each of Caym's words seeped into the monsters, filling them
with strength.
\endtext

\text
Even those who had been timid just moments ago were now
sparkling with anticipation, waiting for his next words.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
This long war is finally coming to an end.
\endtext

\text
Caym closed his eyes, as if reflecting on all the battles up
to now.
\endtext

\text
Then, opening his eyes, he made a bold declaration.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
This is our final battle―to truly unite Nilt!

\endtext

\text
At Caym's words, cheers and roars erupted so loudly it felt
like the entire labyrinth was shaking.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Really, when it matters most, Caym-sama always pulls
through.
\endtext

\text
Risbell watched from the wall, standing beside Beatrice.

\endtext

\text
Moved by Caym's words, she wiped the corner of her eye a
little.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Yeah, even though he usually says nothing but nonsense,
every now and then he does something like this.

\endtext

\text
Beatrice gazed at Caym with a gentle look.

\endtext

\text
Returning to his usual self, Caym continued in a more
relaxed tone.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
This feast is partly to get us fired up... but it's also to
annoy the King of Slumber.

\endtext

\text
At those words, the monsters tilted their heads in
confusion.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
He feeds on people's memories and emotions. But thanks to
our interference, he can't get a proper meal right now.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Right about now, he's probably sulking in his filthy lair
right beneath us, stewing in frustration.
\endtext

\text
Caym flashed a wicked grin. The monsters joined in with him.

\endtext

\text
It was a scene truly befitting the Demon Lord's
Army―villainous to the core.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
He might be spying on us through those Kiramushi, watching
us eat, drink, and party with envy.

\endtext

\text
Laughter rose from among the monsters. Any trace of timidity
or anxiety had completely vanished from them now.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
So, let's show him! Eat, drink, and have as much fun as you
want―let's rub it in his face!

\endtext

\text
Everyone there shouted their agreement, and the party
resumed with even more energy than before.
\endtext