﻿\setgamedatatitle("Final Chapter: Throne of the Void\nConquest of the Depths")

\text
With a hiss, the King of Slumber throws its massive body to
the ground.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
We did it...!
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
No, not yet... We haven't finished it off!
\endtext

\text
The King of Slumber doesn't disappear, instead its huge body
begins to glow faintly.
\endtext

\text
No, that light isn't from the King of Slumber itself, but
from the spawn born from its massive body... a swarm of
Kiramushi.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Figures, something that big would be tough to kill...!
\endtext

\text
Nutrients and magic power spill out from the King of
Slumber.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
That magic power... what is it...?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
That's the magic power the King of Slumber has been storing
up.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Its body is starting to fall apart, so it's leaking out.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Starting to fall apart, huh? Then I'll finish it off...!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Ah... no, wait―
\endtext

\text
Just before the finishing blow, a particularly strong
convulsion shakes the great cavern.
\endtext

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

\text("Agri")
Hey... what the hell is going on...?
\endtext

\text
As if in a final struggle, the King of Slumber spews out a
massive number of spawn―

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...The King of Slumber is a mass of magic power.
\endtext

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

\text("Minerva")
No matter how much damage we do, if it replenishes its magic
power...
\endtext

\text
Minerva's words and the army of spawn being produced in
droves... there's only one thing that means.

\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Hey, look... to me, this looks like it's getting ready to
feed...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
What a coincidence... it looks that way to me too.
\endtext

\text("El")
Th-this is bad! If we don't finish it off quickly...

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Caym-sama!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I know. If it's already half-dead, my power should be more
than enough!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, don't...
\endtext

\text
You can't. To defeat the King of Slumber means―

\endtext

\text
Caym will have to kill his own sister with his own hands―!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Now, disappear for good this time...!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, Caym-sama!
\endtext

\text
Risbell stands in front of Caym, as if to protect the King
of Slumber.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...What are you doing? Move aside, Risbell.

\endtext

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

\text
Beatrice shakes her head. It's fine now... she seems to say.

\endtext

\text
―No, it's not. I can't accept an ending like that.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, I won't move.
\endtext

\text
Everyone is puzzled by Risbell's unusual behavior.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Risbell...?
\endtext

\text("Glace")
Why are you stopping us, Risbell? If we don't defeat the
King of Slumber, Nilt will be destroyed.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
That's...
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Riz, stop.
\endtext

\text
Risbell meets Beatrice's eyes and swallows her words without
thinking.
\endtext

\text
There's still no way to save Beatrice. Both Risbell and
Beatrice understand that.

\endtext

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

\text
It's not that I don't understand how Beatrice feels.

\endtext

\text
She made her choice for Caym's sake. Of course I can
understand that much.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Risbell.
\endtext

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

\text
Even so, Risbell couldn't stay silent any longer.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...If you defeat the King of Slumber, Beatrice-san will
disappear.
\endtext

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

\text("Magahime")
Beatrice will disappear...? What do you mean?

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Nee-san, is what Risbell said true?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Of course not. Don't worry about me, just hurry up and
finish off the King of Slumber...!

\endtext

\text
As she says this, urging them to strike the final blow,
Beatrice's arm... begins to fade from her fingertips.

\endtext

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

\text("Caym")
Nee-san, what was that just now...?
\endtext

\text
Beatrice hurriedly hides her hand, but it's already too
late.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Beatrice... your arm, it's turning see-through...

\endtext

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

\text
There's no point in trying to hide it with her hand now.

\endtext

\text
Everyone present saw that moment clearly.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Please, answer me.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice's shoulders tremble at Caym's unusually heavy
voice.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I'm fine... Really, I'm fine, so...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
There's no way you're fine...!
\endtext

\text
At Caym's angry shout, Beatrice averts her gaze as if trying
to escape.
\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
That's enough, isn't it, Beatrice-san? You can't hide it any
longer.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
No...! Ris, we promised, didn't we...?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
I refuse! I... I don't want Caym-sama to suffer the pain of
losing you again.

\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama... Everyone, please listen.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Beatrice-san is an incarnated being, just like Structa.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...An incarnated body is formed and maintained by the
person's own magic power.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
However... in Beatrice-san's case, she used her own horn as
a vessel and incarnated using the King of Slumber's magic
power.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
The King of Slumber's magic power...?
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
...That's right. So, if the King of Slumber disappears...

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...Wait a minute. Why does the King of Slumber come into
this?

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
They say the souls of those who die here are devoured
through the Kiramushi.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
And Beatrice-san is no exception.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
She was devoured... and for a hundred years, thanks to her
powerful magic, Beatrice-san managed to hold on to her sense
of self.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Isn't that right?
\endtext

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

\text("Margaretta")
So that's why you knew so much about the King of Slumber...

\endtext

\text
―So that's why.
\endtext

\text
In that torrent of memories. And Caym recalls the magic he
sensed from Beatrice through Rudol.

\endtext

\text
Most likely, Caym sensed it. Beatrice, sleeping deep within
the King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text
Whether it was due to Caym's talent, or the bond between
siblings, he didn't know.
\endtext

\text
Even so... Caym definitely felt Beatrice's presence.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
If we defeat the King of Slumber, her source of magic will
be cut off.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
And then... her soul, having lost its host, won't be able to
remain in this world.
\endtext

\text("El")
No way...
\endtext

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

\text
A chill runs down Caym's spine.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(If Risbell hadn't stopped me, would I have killed my sister
with my own hands...?)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Did you all know...?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I only found out recently. Verlnya-san told me.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Why didn't you tell me sooner...? If I'd known earlier...

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Even if you knew, the outcome wouldn't change.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Caym... there's no way to save me. That's why I'm telling
you.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Hurry up and defeat the King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Risbell! If I'd known this would happen, I could have
done something...!

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I desperately searched for a way. I even talked to
Verlnya-san... but...!

\endtext

\text
Caym suddenly realizes.
\endtext

\text
He's not the only one suffering. Risbell has been carrying
that truth and suffering all this time too.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Sorry, Risbell.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Knowing that, there's no way you would've done nothing... It
must've been hard for you.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, in the end, I couldn't find a way to save
Beatrice-san...

\endtext

\text
Yes, even now, there's still no way to save Beatrice.

\endtext

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

\text("Beatrice")
Hey, Caym. Do you remember the promise you made with your
sister?
\endtext

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

\text
―No matter what happens, I want you to defeat the King of
Slumber.
\endtext

\text
Those words resurface in Caym's mind.
\endtext

\text
But that means killing Beatrice with his own hands.

\endtext

\text
Even as Caym hesitates, the King of Slumber stirs, birthing
spawn and preparing to feed.

\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Where the hell did that bastard get so much power from?

\endtext

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

\text("Caym")
What am I supposed to do...? If I kill him, I'll be killing
my sister...!
\endtext

\text
Caym is showing a level of inner conflict no one has ever
seen before.
\endtext

\text
But as she gazes at Caym with gentle eyes, Beatrice quietly
begins to speak.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Even so, you have to do it.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I'm already long dead. And yet... by some unexpected
miracle, I got to spend so much time with you again, Caym.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
So it's okay now. I... was more than happy enough.

\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
Beatrice-san...
\endtext

\text
―Is there really no choice but to kill her?
\endtext

\text
Just as Caym thinks that, Beatrice pulls him into an
embrace.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...At least this once, can't you listen to your big sister?


\endtext

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

\text
Caym finally notices something strange about Beatrice.

\endtext

\text
It wasn't just her arms that were becoming transparent.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Beatrice, you...!
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No... please wait!
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
It's all right... I just can't maintain my Incarnation
anymore.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
My soul won't be digested by this thing, either. I'll just
return to the world, together with the other souls.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...I'll leave the rest to you, Riz. Please take care of Caym
for me.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice gives Risbell a wry smile in response.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No...! I can't do it alone... Caym-sama needs you,
Beatrice-san!

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Caym... keep your promise. Or I'll never forgive you.

\endtext

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

\text
Right before his eyes, Beatrice's form is fading away more
and more.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Bye-bye. My beloved―

\endtext

\text
And before she can finish her words, Beatrice reaches her
limit and disappears.
\endtext

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

\text("Minerva")
Tch... We have no time left! Caym-sama!

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Steel yourself! If you hesitate now, everything will be for
nothing!

\endtext

\text
At Margaretta's words, Caym presses his lips together
tightly.
\endtext

\text
If he hesitates here, will he lose everything all over
again?
\endtext

\text
Or perhaps...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Back then, I had no ties, no bonds. I lived only for my
own desires.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama...?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
But after meeting you, Risbell, and forming the Demon Lord's
Army... before I knew it, I had many
subordinates―friends―behind me.
\endtext

\text
Caym turns around and gazes at Risbell... and at the
companions who follow him.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
I can't just think about myself anymore.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
If I make a mistake, I might lose irreplaceable friends
because of it.
\endtext

\text
Then, as if shaking something off, he sweeps his cloak and
makes his decision.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
In that case, I―
\endtext

\text("？？？")
...Are you saying you're going to give something up? That's
not like you, Caym of Diabolica.

\endtext

\text
Before he realizes it, Verlnya appears before Caym, looking
as calm as ever.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Verlnya... what are you doing here?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...I've come to grant my wish.
\endtext

\text
As she says this, Verlnya even seems to be enjoying herself
a little.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Your wish...?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Could it be... that...?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...Yes. I never expected you all would corner the King of
Slumber this far.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
I told you it was impossible, Risbell, because I assumed you
could never defeat the King of Slumber.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
But now... though it's dangerous, we might be able to save
Beatrice.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Really...?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do we need to do?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Using the horn as a vessel, we'll use the King of Slumber's
magic power to create a body for her...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Then we'll fuse her soul with that body and incarnate her.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Is that even possible...?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
With this world's resurrection magic, it's normally
impossible to revive someone like her, whose original body
is almost completely gone.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
That's because of the limits on the amount of magic power
that can be supplied.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Creating a body that can serve as a vessel for a soul
requires an enormous amount of magic power...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
But no one in this world has enough magic power to make that
possible.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
And even if someone did, there's no technique to compress it
to the extremely high density needed to create a body.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Yeah... I've checked countless documents, but almost all
failed resurrections were due to the limits of magic power.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
However, here we have the King of Slumber―a being with magic
power so vast, it could be called infinite.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
And as for the technique to compress magic power, we possess
the technology of Incarnation.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
But you Structors―can you really create a proper body for
Beatrice, who is a Diabolica?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Normally, that would have been a major problem as well.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
But... fortunately, her horn remained.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
A Diabolica's horn contains their genetic information in
extremely high density.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
That will serve as the guidepost for recreating her body.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
And, though it's ironic to say...

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
I believe I mentioned before that Structors and Diabolica
were both born in the same world.

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Yeah, I remember. But what does that have to do with this?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Deep within our memories... for some reason, information
about our own bodies was left behind.

\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Hey, but Structors are supposed to be spiritual beings
without bodies, right? Why would you have that kind of info?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
I wondered about that too. But no matter how much I dug
through my memories, I couldn't find an answer.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
So, Verlnya-sama and I made a hypothesis.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Maybe... Structors were once a race that had bodies, just
like the Diabolica.

\endtext

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

\text("Minerva")
Originally, Structors and Diabolica might have been a single
race.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Some chose to abandon their bodies and become spiritual
beings, while others chose to keep their bodies and live
on...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Those who abandoned their bodies won, and exiled those who
kept theirs to the outside of the world.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
So you're saying that's what became the Structors and the
Diabolica...?
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
It's just a theory. But if you look at it that way, it makes
sense why Structors were so hostile toward the Diabolica.

\endtext

\text("Agri")
Yeah, fighting among yourselves is always scarier than
fighting outsiders.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
So, back to what I was saying earlier. The information about
bodies left within us is the same as that of the Diabolica.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
If that's the case, then we're the most suited to recreate
her body―that's the conclusion we reached.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
To think the ones we hated so much were actually the same
race, and now they hold the key to resurrection... It really
is ironic.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
So, it can be done...? But what about Beatrice's soul?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
We'll use the magic power and soul of hers that remain
inside the King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text("El")
I see... Beatrice-san is still in there, isn't she!

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...However, for that, we'll need to extract only Beatrice's
magic power and soul from within the King of Slumber.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Extracting... her soul, huh...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Since the King of Slumber is currently collapsing,
extracting the soul is difficult, but not impossible.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
However, finding it among the countless memories and minds
that thing has absorbed is an almost impossible task.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
It's like trying to find a single grain of sand in a vast
desert.
\endtext

\text
Verlnya stared intently at Caym as she said this.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...So I'm the only one who can do it, huh?

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
With your exclusive magical connection to her, maybe you
can...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
And her soul is probably located near the center of the King
of Slumber.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
If you dive that deep and try to touch her soul... there's a
risk you'll be absorbed by the King of Slumber instead.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No way... To put Caym-sama in danger like that...!

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Hmph, if I'm scared of that kind of risk, I can't call
myself a Demon Lord. Let's do this, Risbell.
\endtext

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

\text
Risbell looked at Caym anxiously. But realizing how
determined he was, she turned back to Verlnya.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Understood. Verlnya-san, please tell us the specific
steps.
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Caym will extract Beatrice's soul. Minerva and I will work
together to create her body.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Risbell, Tiela, Magahime, and Glace, please control the King
of Slumber's magic so it doesn't spread.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
So you'll be able to gather magic more easily. If that's
all, I think we can manage it.

\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
So, what should we do?
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
While we're casting the spell, we'll be defenseless. So...


\endtext

\text("Agri")
We just have to protect you guys from the spawn, right...?

\endtext

\text("Noro")
Crush the spawn...!
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Yes... please do.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
...I never thought I'd hear those words from you.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Yeah... but it's fine. Watching the Structors change is
pretty interesting.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
Caym-sama, we may not be much, but we'll help too.

\endtext

\text("El")
Please take care of Beatrice-san!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I know. I'm counting on you all too.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Leave it to me. I won't let a single finger touch any of
you.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...Then, let's begin. The explanation took some time. We
have to finish before that thing regenerates.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Before that, can I ask one thing?
\endtext

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

\text("Caym")
Why did you decide to help me?
\endtext

\text
Without hesitation, Verlnya answers his question.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
You all have twisted and disrupted the fate we control, over
and over again...
\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
In the end, you always managed to seize your own wishes.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...I just wanted to see a little more of where your path
leads.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
I want to watch you struggle even more.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
And it's more 'interesting' if she's by your side... Don't
you think so, Caym?

\endtext

\text
―Interesting.
\endtext

\text
Caym was momentarily stunned by the word that came from
Verlnya's mouth.
\endtext

\text
Then, he burst out laughing.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
......Heh. Hahaha! 'Interesting,' huh... To think I'd hear
that word from you.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
But you're right. It's more interesting with nee-san
around... isn't it?

\endtext

\text
With a ferocious grin, Caym turned to face Risbell.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Whether it's interesting or not, it just feels lacking
without her.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...If things stay like this, I'll never beat her.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama, please, you must―
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah... Leave it to me.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I'm coming to get you now, nee-san.
\endtext

\text
Caym focused his mind on the King of Slumber.

\endtext

\text
Caym's ability, 'Demonic Power Monopoly,' has a time limit.

\endtext

\text
Within that short window, he must find Beatrice's magic and
soul... and extract them.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Nee-san, it's me...! I'm going to get you out of that cage
now...!)
\endtext

\text
He closed his eyes, and as he opened them, activated Demonic
Power Monopoly.
\endtext

\text
In that instant, a massive, chaotic torrent of magic surged
into Caym.
\endtext

\text
It felt as if he was swallowing a muddy torrent in the
middle of a storm, and Caym was nearly overwhelmed by the
sensation.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Like hell I'll lose to this...!)
\endtext

\text
Instead of resisting the surging magic, he let himself go
with the flow.
\endtext

\text
Then, just like before, countless images flooded into Caym's
mind.
\endtext

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

\text
Absorbing more magic than he could handle, Caym groaned.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Caym-sama...!
\endtext

\text
Along with Tiela and the others, Risbell shouted as she
struggled to control the magic flowing from the King of
Slumber.
\endtext

\text("Glace")
Trust Caym for now. He'll pull it off, I'm sure.

\endtext

\text
Glace, standing nearby, nodded to the anxious Risbell.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...You're right. Please, Caym-sama...!

\endtext

\text
Risbell tore her gaze from Caym and focused once more on
what she needed to do.
\endtext

\text
Caym was calling out to Beatrice.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Nee-san... where are you, Nee-san...!)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Everyone's waiting... Come on, Nee-san!)
\endtext

\text
Countless souls absorbed by the King of Slumber... their
memories poured into Caym.
\endtext

\text
Every emotion a human could possibly feel shook Caym's soul.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
(What's wrong? Your adorable little brother came all this
way to see you... Where are you, Nee-san!)

\endtext

\text
Then, far ahead, he saw a single beam of light.
\endtext

\text
That light quickly spread... and enveloped Caym.

\endtext

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

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

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

\text("？？？")
Caym, what do you want to be when you grow up?

\endtext

\text
It was Beatrice's voice from when she was young.
\endtext

\text
Before he knew it, Caym was standing in a field near Bram.

\endtext

\text
It was a place where he'd spent many hours with his sister,
Beatrice.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What do you mean, 'want to be'? I'm going to be the king of
this country. You know that, Nee-san.
\endtext

\text
The words came out naturally.
\endtext

\text
Yes, this was the day Hados fell... a memory from the days
before their peaceful life ended.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Hehe, that's not what I'm asking.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Not the future our parents decided for us―I'm asking what
you, Caym, want to do.
\endtext

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

\text
Beatrice nodded, her eyes gazing off into the distance.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
I want to be with you forever, Caym.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Just like this, by your side, chatting about nothing,
laughing together over silly things―

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
If I get lonely, we can sleep in the same bed together.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice added that, a little embarrassed.

\endtext

\text
When they were younger, they used to sleep together every
night, but lately, those times had become fewer.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Of course we'll be together. After all, you're going to be
my queen, Nee-san.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Yeah, that's right... Yes, I'm going to be your queen.

\endtext

\text
But as Beatrice said those words... she seemed to sense the
fate that would eventually come for them.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Then, promise me.
\endtext

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

\text("Beatrice")
If I ever go far, far away, and we get separated, Caym...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
There's no way that would ever happen.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
That's why it's just a 'what if.' Even if that happens...

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Promise me you'll come see me. No matter what.

\endtext

\text
Was this something that really happened in the past, or was
it a scene created by Caym and Beatrice's memories?

\endtext

\text
But that didn't matter.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, I promise. I'll definitely come see you, Nee-san.

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Thank you, Caym. Hearing you say that makes me feel so
much better.
\endtext

\text
Looking at her, Beatrice was smiling, but her big eyes were
glistening with tears.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Hey, Nee-san, why are you crying? Did I say something
weird―?
\endtext

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

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

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

\text
―Yes, that's Nee-san's voice.
\endtext

\text
A voice telling me, I'm here.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(That's right... Nee-san said she'd given up, but that was
her true feelings... a cry from her heart that she wants to
live with me.)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Go deeper... reach out as far as you can.)
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(The one waiting for you is your beloved Nee-san...!)

\endtext

\text
If he reached any further, his very self might collapse...
Caym dove into the king of slumber's world, right up to the
edge of his limits.
\endtext

\text
Near the center... even as the surrounding memories flowed
and leaked away, there was a light that stayed still.

\endtext

\text
It wavered anxiously... but maybe noticing Caym's approach,
it reached out a thread of light toward him.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I'm going to fulfill that promise from back then, right
here and now.
\endtext

\text
―No matter what happens. I will definitely come to see you.

\endtext

\text
And I will never let you go again.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Sorry, King of Slumber... but Nee-san is coming back with
me!
\endtext

\text
In that instant, a surge of magic power burst out from the
King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text
In Caym's arms was the translucent form of Beatrice. This
was her Soul.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
You did it, Caym! Now, all that's left is...

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
Yes. Then, let's begin the Incarnation.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
Understood.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Please... let this succeed!
\endtext

\text
The King of Slumber, as if making a final stand, sent its
spawn toward Caym.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
No...!
\endtext

\text
Margaretta, who was right beside Caym, shouted.
\endtext

\text
But faster than that, Caym poured all his strength into
monopolizing the magic power.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
It's over, King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text
The Dream Eaters and the Kiramushi swarmed in.
\endtext

\text
All the magic power in this space rushed toward Caym, who
had seized control.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...I'll return that magic power to nothingness.
\endtext

\text
All the magic power that existed here, and the King of
Slumber's magic power―he would take it all...!
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Know this―there's no place for you in this world!

\endtext

\text
A massive amount of magic power leaked out, and on top of
that, Berlnya and the others drew even more from the King of
Slumber to create Beatrice's body.
\endtext

\text
The pitiful mass of flesh could do nothing as Caym's
monopolization drained away its magic power.
\endtext

\text
That magic power was absorbed by Caym, and the absorbed
power was poured into his monopolization.

\endtext

\text
There was no excess to return to the outside air. The magic
power vanished...
\endtext

\text
The King of Slumber, too, would likely be unable to maintain
its body once it lost its magic power.
\endtext

\text
Cracks ran through its massive body, magic power leaked out,
and then―
\endtext

\text
Without a sound, its huge form burst apart from within.
\endtext

\text
With a flash of light, an enormous amount of magic power
instantly filled the great hollow.
\endtext

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

\text
His vision slowly began to recover.
\endtext

\text
Caym sharpened his senses, not letting his guard down.

\endtext

\text
What Caym―and the Demon Lord's army―saw was the great
hollow. Neither the King's massive body nor the spawn
remained.
\endtext

\text
Only the magic power filling the space was enveloping them―

\endtext

\text
Not even a scrap of flesh remained of the King of Slumber.
\endtext

\text("El")
I-it's over... Did we defeat it...?
\endtext

\text
Even understanding what that meant, no one could let their
guard down.
\endtext

\text
Caym flashed a grin at El, who was anxiously scanning their
surroundings.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Looks like it.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Indeed... I truly wondered how things would turn out this
time.
\endtext

\text
At their words, El collapsed on the spot, sitting down in
relief.
\endtext

\text
And little by little, the feeling of reality began to
spread.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
Turns out things work out somehow, huh.
\endtext

\text("Noro")
I'm exhausted... and hungry.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
That's nothing new for you.
\endtext

\text
Relieved at having defeated their greatest enemy, everyone
began to speak up.
\endtext

\text
In the midst of that, Tiela was the first to notice.

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
This magic power...
\endtext

\text
She realized that the magic power overflowing from the King
of Slumber was gradually fading away.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
It's all returning to the earth...
\endtext

\text
Magahime's eyes widened as she saw the magic power seeping
into the cave walls.
\endtext

\text
And perhaps because of that influence―
\endtext

\text
Tree roots, likely stretching down from the surface, wove
through cracks in the rock walls―and even buds of grass and
flowers had begun to sprout.
\endtext

\text
Seeing this, Glace murmured in awe.

\endtext

\text("Glace")
So this magic power is what made Nilt such fertile land...

\endtext

\text
It was undeniable proof that they had defeated the King of
Slumber.
\endtext

\text
But they had not yet truly claimed victory.
\endtext

\text
Simply defeating the enemy and protecting the country was
not enough to call it a true victory.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Beatrice-san!
\endtext

\text
Ignoring the scene around her, Risbell rushed over to Berna
and the others.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Berna, how's Nee-san...!?
\endtext

\text
Caym, too, hurried over to Berna―to Beatrice.

\endtext

\text
Beatrice lay on the ground.
\endtext

\text
But her eyes did not open. She didn't move a muscle.

\endtext

\text("Verlnya")
...She isn't waking up.
\endtext

\text("Minerva")
No way... Did we fail...?
\endtext

\text
Those words from Minerva stabbed deep, deep into Risbell's
heart.
\endtext

\text
There's no way it could have failed. That can't be.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Beatrice-san, please wake up...

\endtext

\text
She tightly gripped Beatrice's cold, lifeless hand.

\endtext

\text
She knew that a hand this cold could never squeeze back―but
even so, she couldn't help but hold on tighter.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
No, I don't want this... Dying in a place like this...

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...I've always admired you, Beatrice-san.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
You're beautiful, you're so cool...! I always wondered how
happy Caym-sama would be if I could be a woman like you...

\endtext

\text
―A single tear fell onto Beatrice's hand.
\endtext

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

\text("Risbell")
Wake up... Please, wake up...
\endtext

\text
She didn't want this.
\endtext

\text
She had doubted her, even resented her. There were times she
wished she would just disappear.
\endtext

\text
But now, it was different. She wanted her to stay. She
couldn't stand the thought of her not being here.
\endtext

\text
Tears streamed down from the corners of Risbell's eyes.

\endtext

\text
And then, on her tear-stained cheek―
\endtext

\text
A cold palm gently touched her.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Hehe. Riz, your crying face is so cute.

\endtext

\text
And then, that familiar voice. The voice she wanted to hear
most right now reached Risbell's ears.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Huh? You're awake...

\endtext

\text
Hearing that voice, Risbell's mind went completely blank.

\endtext

\text
The hand she was holding grew warm.

\endtext

\text
Through her tear-blurred vision, she could clearly see
Beatrice's smile.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Well, with someone crying that beautifully, it's hard to
wake up, isn't it?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah.
\endtext

\text
Behind Risbell, Caym and Margaretta exchanged wry smiles,
leaving Risbell even more confused.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Huh... wha...?
\endtext

\text
Looking closely, she realized she was the only one crying.

\endtext

\text
Except for Minerva and Verlnya, everyone else was either
smiling wryly or beaming with happiness.
\endtext

\text("Spacchio")
...Everyone noticed, you know?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Well, it's Minerva's fault for saying something like that.

\endtext

\text("Minerva")
How is this my fault!?
\endtext

\text
All the sadness and tears from before quickly faded away.

\endtext

\text
That's what it meant. The moment she understood, Risbell's
face turned red all the way to her ears.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Awa... w-was I just... jumping to conclusions...?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Ufufufu. Come on, now―this time, cry into your big sister's
proud chest♪

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Mmmphhhhhh!?
\endtext

\text
And then, even that was blown away by those annoyingly ample
breasts.
\endtext

\text
Standing there was the same Beatrice as always, unchanged.

\endtext

\text
Caym smiled at Beatrice, looking relieved.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Heh... Well, anyway. You're really okay now, right?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Yeah. But after saying all that, I don't look very cool,
do I?

\endtext

\text
Beatrice said, looking embarrassed but also a little happy.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Mmmph... ugh...
\endtext

\text("Tiela")
...Risbell-san is going to suffocate, you know?
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Are you okay?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Pwah... ha... What are you doing to your lifesaver!?

\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
...Yeah. Thank you, Riz. For saving me.

\endtext

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

\text
―No matter how mad I get, that's just how she is. It's
hopeless.
\endtext

\text
But she never lets those feelings show. Those infuriatingly
big breasts and the warmth of her hug are real.

\endtext

\text
Beatrice is really here. Just that alone makes everything
okay.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Everyone, too. Thanks to you, I got to see Caym again.

\endtext

\text("Glace")
It's nothing to be thanked for. It's only natural as
comrades.
\endtext

\text
Everyone nodded at Glace's words.
\endtext

\text
That made her happier than anything else.
\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
Comrades, huh... ufufu.
\endtext

\text
Beatrice hugs Risbell, smiling happily.

\endtext

\text
Seeing that heartwarming scene, El suddenly realized
something.
\endtext

\text("El")
Beatrice-san is safe... We defeated the King of Slumber...
Does that mean it's a complete victory!?

\endtext

\text("Tiela")
What's gotten into you all of a sudden?
\endtext

\text("El")
But we won! Against that huge thing!

\endtext

\text
It wasn't just a win.
\endtext

\text
They protected Hados... protected Nilt... and their precious
comrades as well.
\endtext

\text
It wasn't a hollow celebration or a half-baked victory. Just
as El said, it was a complete victory.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Now that you mention it... fufu. I can't believe it.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Even if you can't believe it, it's the truth. With this,
everything is settled.
\endtext

\text("El")
We did it!
\endtext

\text
At Caym's words, El was the first to let out a triumphant
shout.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Uooooooh! We did iiiiiit!!

\endtext

\text
The joy spread, growing louder, shaking this vast cavern
with their roars.
\endtext

\text
Some, like Agri, shouted with all their might, while the
former queens embraced each other―
\endtext

\text
Even Verlnya wore a gentle smile.
\endtext

\text
There wasn't a single person here who wasn't overjoyed by
this outcome.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
...Hehe. Caym-sama, maybe we should throw another party?


\endtext

\text("Caym")
You're right. Alright, let's head back to the labyrinth and
have ourselves a victory celebration!

\endtext

\text
At Caym's command, the monsters answered with a roar.

\endtext

\text
Now that their enemy was defeated, there was no reason to
linger here any longer.
\endtext

\text
All that was left was to share the overflowing joy and make
some noise together.
\endtext

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

\text
―Beatrice was never supposed to be here in the first place.

\endtext

\text
No matter what path she chose, sooner or later, she was
destined to disappear along with the King of Slumber... with
Nilt.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What's wrong, nee-san?
\endtext

\text
The one who changed that fate asked Beatrice in his usual
way.

\endtext

\text
Suddenly, her vision blurred with tears.
\endtext

\text
She had no regrets. Or so she told herself―but that was a
lie.
\endtext

\text
Because being able to be together like this right now makes
her so incredibly happy.
\endtext

\text


\endtext

\text("Beatrice")
No... I'm home, Caym.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
...Yeah, welcome back, nee-san.
\endtext