﻿\setgamedatatitle("Final Chapter: Throne of the Void\nDepths of the Earth 2")

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Risbell steps out of the office to take a breather.
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Naturally, in the corner of her vision, she spots a
Kiramushi.
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\text("Risbell")
...Kiramushi... Is that one that failed to make it
underground?
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Or perhaps Beatrice is controlling it.
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\text("Risbell")
(I have to return to Lord Caym by noon...)
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\text("Risbell")
(...We still haven't found a way to save Beatrice-san.)

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No matter how much she discussed it with Verlnya and the
others, they couldn't come up with any solution at all.
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On the contrary... it only made her painfully aware that it
was absolutely impossible.

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\text("Risbell")
Incarnation...
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\text
Risbell once again reviews the mechanism of Minerva and the
others' incarnation.
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\text
Just because she can't find a way doesn't mean she can give
up.
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\text("Risbell")
(For a Structa to incarnate, the body must be created from
their own magical power...)

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\text("Risbell")
(Otherwise, there will be a rejection reaction...)
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\text
That's why Verlnya said, 'Your own magical power is
absolutely essential.'

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\text("Risbell")
(And in this world, incarnation requires either a vessel
made from gathered dead flesh, or the actual body of the
deceased...)
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\text("Risbell")
(As expected, to suppress the rejection, the person's own
body... or at least a part of it as a vessel is absolutely
necessary.)
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\text("Risbell")
...In Beatrice-san's case, that vessel would be her horn,
right...?
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\text
Thinking that, Risbell comes up with an idea.

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\text
What if they used Verlnya and the others' magical power to
create a body, and used her horn as the vessel?
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\text("Verlnya")
That's impossible.
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\text("Verlnya")
Our magical power has weakened since we incarnated.

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\text("Verlnya")
We can't even create a body anymore.

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\text("Risbell")
............
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―Remembering Verlnya's answer, Risbell slumps her shoulders.

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\text
At this rate, saving Beatrice was impossible.

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\text("Risbell")
Beatrice-san...
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\text("Beatrice")
Did you call me?
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\text("Risbell")
Hyawa!? P-please don't startle me...

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\text("Beatrice")
Why the gloomy face? What's wrong?
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\text("Risbell")
No, it's nothing...
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\text("Beatrice")
...Ah. Are you mad that I had Caym all to myself?


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\text("Risbell")
...No. I was busy too, so I couldn't be by Caym-sama's side.


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In that sense, I could even say I'm grateful.

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\text("Beatrice")
...Busy?
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\text("Risbell")
............
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As if it were just a casual conversation, Beatrice asks
Risbell.
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She probably thinks I don't know anything. This woman... she
intends to keep everything hidden until the very end.

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\text
Surely, for my sake and for Caym's.
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\text("Risbell")
I heard everything from Verlnya-san.

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Unable to bear that kindness, Risbell spoke up.

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\text("Beatrice")
...I see.
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\text
Beatrice doesn't look particularly surprised. She just gives
a troubled smile.
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\text("Risbell")
That you incarnated using the power of the King of Slumber.

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\text("Risbell")
...And that if we defeat the King of Slumber, you'll
disappear.
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\text("Beatrice")
I see. Well, it's not like I told her not to talk.


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\text("Risbell")
...So it's true, isn't it?
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Risbell lowers her gaze. She almost wishes Beatrice would
just laugh and deny it.

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But Beatrice just gives a resigned smile and affirms it.

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\text("Beatrice")
It's all true. There's no point lying to Verlnya.


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\text("Beatrice")
She's awful, that woman. Doesn't she know how to sugarcoat
things?

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―But the truly awful one isn't Verlnya, it's me. I've been
hiding something this important all along.
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And Beatrice knows full well that this isn't what Risbell
really wants to ask.

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She can't keep hiding it from her any longer.

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\text("Beatrice")
...My incarnation is the same as the spawn.

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\text("Risbell")
In what way is it the same?
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\text("Beatrice")
The spawn are beings created by the King of Slumber's
power... and so am I now.
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\text("Beatrice")
I incarnated with the King of Slumber's power, so I have the
same weakness as the spawn.
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Like the Kiramushi, who can't move or even appear where
there's no magic power.
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That means if there's no magic power, they can't do anything
at all.
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Without magic power, Beatrice can't even exist, let alone
touch someone.

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\text("Beatrice")
...It seems like the Structors' incarnation doesn't have
that kind of weakness.
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\text("Risbell")
Right. I heard that as long as the Structor's own magic
doesn't run out, they won't disappear.
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\text("Beatrice")
Yeah... I'm jealous.
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\text("Beatrice")
If the King of Slumber's magic stops reaching me, I just
collapse.
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\text("Beatrice")
...And it's not like I can incarnate any other way.

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Beatrice said, sounding lonely.
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\text("Beatrice")
Well, it can't be helped.
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\text("Beatrice")
It's not like I followed the proper procedure, and besides,
I'm already dead.
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\text("Risbell")
If a chance to come back to life is right in front of you,
it's only natural to wish for it.
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\text("Risbell")
But... why did you want to incarnate?

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\text("Beatrice")
Isn't it obvious? For Caym.

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\text("Beatrice")
I wanted to stay by Caym's side and protect him... This
time, I swore I'd protect him for sure.

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\text("Beatrice")
I never imagined it would turn out like this...

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\text("Risbell")
...
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\text("Beatrice")
Maybe this is all just punishment for me cheating the rules.

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Beatrice gives a bitter, resigned smile. Seeing her so
uncharacteristically calm, Risbell feels a surge of
irritation.
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\text("Risbell")
(She wanted to see him that badly... She cares about
Caym-sama that much, and yet...)

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\text("Risbell")
...So why are you acting so calm about it?

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\text("Beatrice")
Would you rather say I'm enlightened? That would make your
nee-san happy.
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\text("Risbell")
...Don't you mean resigned?
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\text("Beatrice")
Ugh... That's harsh. Are you mad at me?

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\text("Risbell")
Yes, very much so.
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\text("Risbell")
I'm desperately trying to find a way to save you, but with
you acting like this, I can't help but feel frustrated.

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\text("Beatrice")
...A way to save me?
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\text("Risbell")
Yes... But I'm sorry. I haven't thought of anything yet.

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\text("Risbell")
But I will definitely find a way. So, Beatrice-san...

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Just as Risbell is about to say 'Don't give up until the
end,' Beatrice cuts her off.
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\text("Beatrice")
You don't have to worry about me at all.

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\text("Risbell")
Huh...?
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\text("Beatrice")
If you've heard everything from Verlnya... then you know
there's no way to save me.

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\text("Risbell")
...Yes. But I have no intention of giving up. I will
definitely...

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\text("Beatrice")
You don't have to do that.
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\text("Risbell")
What do you mean by that? I...

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\text("Beatrice")
I died a hundred years ago. The fact that I'm even here like
this is what's strange.

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\text("Beatrice")
...It's enough already. So, it's fine.

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Then why does she look so lonely... Why does she smile in a
way that hurts just to see?

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\text("Risbell")
...Do you really believe that?

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\text("Beatrice")
If I didn't, I wouldn't say it.

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\text("Risbell")
............
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She doesn't even know how I feel, and yet she's just giving
up on her own.
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Risbell clenches her fists tightly.

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If it weren't Beatrice, she would've slapped her with all
her might.
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\text("Beatrice")
Ah, but don't tell Caym about this, okay?

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\text("Beatrice")
No matter what happens, we have to defeat the King of
Slumber.
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\text("Beatrice")
So I don't want you hesitating here because of me.

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\text("Risbell")
...Yes, you're right. I agree with you on that.

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―But, Risbell glares fiercely at Beatrice.

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\text("Risbell")
Let me be clear. I have no intention of letting you die.

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\text("Beatrice")
Ris...
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\text("Risbell")
You said it yourself. That you'd leave Caym-sama to me.

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\text("Risbell")
If you disappear, Caym-sama will be sad.

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\text("Risbell")
I don't want to make Caym-sama sad.

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\text("Risbell")
And... as a comrade, I want you to live, Beatrice-san.


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\text("Risbell")
...Well then, see you later.
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Risbell turns on her heel.
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Beatrice, left behind, sadly... but happily, savors those
words.

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\text("Beatrice")
...As a comrade, huh.
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It's the first time she's ever heard those words from
Risbell's mouth.
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She'd been treated coldly and even doubted, but being
accepted like this made her truly happy.

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...And at the same time, it made it all the more painful.
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\text("Beatrice")
...Thank you, Ris.
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....................
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............
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......
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\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama. Preparations for deployment are complete.

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Countless monsters that had gathered all turned their eyes
to Caym.
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Trust and loyalty. Awe and respect.

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Those alone were more than enough to satisfy Caym.

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In the battles to come, even if Caym said nothing, everyone
here would follow him until the moment of victory.

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\text("Caym")
I see. Are you all ready as well?

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\text("Agri")
Of course. You don't even have to ask, boss.

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\text("Caym")
Hmph... Still as mouthy as ever, I see.
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\text("Margaretta")
You need that kind of spirit. After all, we're up against a
monster that could devour three or four countries without a
second thought.
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\text("Spacchio")
Oh, you scared?
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\text("Margaretta")
No, if anything, I'm excited. No soldier's heart fails to
race at the thought of fighting a strong foe.
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\text("Agri")
Yeah, and the fate of this Nilt is on the line... It's
insane.
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\text("Spacchio")
...Can you even understand that?
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\text("Noro")
These two are scary.
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\text("El")
...This is why people whose brains are made of muscle are
hopeless...
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\text("Tiela")
Hehe, but isn't that reassuring?
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\text("Glace")
El's brain is made of hunger and lust, so it's not much
different.
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\text("El")
That's not true! I may look like this, but I think about all
sorts of things... Don't lump me in with them!

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\text("Magahime")
...Well, as you can see. Looks like everyone's ready.

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\text("Risbell")
It's good to see things are as usual.

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The throne room was suddenly filled with lively chatter.
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To put it badly, there was no sense of tension. To put it
well, everyone was mentally at ease.
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It was the usual scene.
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\text("Magahime")
...But it seems like Risbell isn't feeling the same way?

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...Amidst it all, Magahime noticed Risbell, who was on edge.

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And Caym, who should have been the first to notice, tilted
his head in confusion.
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\text("Caym")
Is that so?
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\text("Risbell")
...Of course. I can't afford to lose, and I can't give up
either.

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\text("Minerva")
That's right.
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\text("Beatrice")
............
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\text("Caym")
...Hmm.
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\text
Indeed, what Magahime said made sense.

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However, none of the three seemed to be trembling with
anxiety or fear.
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It was more like they had steeled themselves for what was to
come.
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Caym didn't know exactly what that was, though―

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\text("Caym")
No need to get so worked up. After all, we're the ones who
are going to win, right?
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Caym flashed a ferocious grin.
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It was at that moment.
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\text("Beatrice")
...Did we just make it angry?

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\text("Caym")
Heh... Looks like it.
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As if in response to Caym's words, a massive tremor shook
the entire labyrinth.
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Then, from all directions, Kiramushi began to overflow and
transform into Yumekui.
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\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama...!
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\text("Caym")
Ignore anything that appears here. Our only target is the
King of Slumber.
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Caym's calm voice echoed through the throne room.

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\text("Caym")
Let's do this like we always have. As long as you and I are
here, victory is as good as ours...

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\text("Caym")
Let's bring this to an end with our own hands.
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\text("Caym")
After all, we're the ones who started this fight.

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\text("Caym")
Let's go...! With our own hands, we'll crush the King of
Slumber!

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