"Huh!? What's this... It's so intermittent, like watching a TV with no signal..."

I felt an image flash past my eyelids. No, it appeared in my mind.

"! Are there any protective measures?"

“…No, that shouldn’t be the case… It feels like something is destroyed, with only fragments left…”

"So it was deleted upon death, huh..."

"The decomposition magic and experience copying remain in the body, so there should be some remnants of memory left as well, right?"

"If that's the case, it might be a particularly memorable memory. Kaori, how about it?"

I couldn't reply for a moment.

The scene before my eyes was like a slide show of tattered photos.

The photos show a tragic and cruel scene. Death, and more death. Millions, consumed by grief, ultimately perished.

Just like the crew on the ship we saw earlier in the underwater ruins, those who fought for peace, or for friendship with others, ultimately fell into madness or were killed by those maddened.

All of this was caused by the apostles. To set the stage, they plunged the world into madness, while they themselves watched from above.

I instinctively covered my mouth. This world was so cruel and ruthless that it made me sick.

But Hajime and Shia were worried about me. They called out to me, their warm hands on my back, supporting my heart. So, I'm fine.

Hajime shook one of my hands. I shook it back firmly to show that I was fine.

"Don't push yourself."

I nodded in response, and then continued to focus on exploring the fragments of memory.

I kept watching fragments of the past, and eventually I began to understand why these fragments remained even after the memory was erased.

I saw the Dragon People, who never gave up fighting even when their country was deprived and they were despised by the world.

I saw that vampires would fight desperately for their loved ones even if it meant becoming enemies with God.

I saw humans, though knights of the Church, working hand in hand with demons to protect heretics.

I saw people of an unknown race, protecting the demihumans even when facing the danger of extinction.

Among the many people struggling desperately, I saw the figure of a girl from the weakest race, just like my companion in front of me.

"Rabbit people... in the future... will definitely...?"

"Ms. Kaori?"

"There was a bunny girl around Shia's age...who bravely fought. Alone, she faced the apostles."

"...!"

That bunny girl fought to the death to protect her people. Even before her death, she wore a heroic smile. Even if I couldn't hear clearly, even if I was the only one there, her words still moved me.

Xia's expression changed, and she seemed to be deeply moved.

"Haha. It seems like there were heroic rabbits long, long ago! Of course! Rabbits in the forest are very powerful!"

Shia said with a proud smile, her rabbit ears and tail swung rapidly.

Exactly. Perhaps that's the reason.

Because there is honor. Because there is will. Because there is a wish worth risking one's life for.

Those who appeared in the fragments of memory were all people like this. People who fought to the very end.

The world of memories is filled with sorrow, and reality is extremely cruel. However, their life styles are extremely vivid and intense.

This must have been the reason why the apostle could not forget it.

Although they had no feelings for each other, the scene before me forced me to believe that this was the case.

Especially the person in front of him... the apostle must have unusual feelings for her.

"Miss Millardi Rasen... She might be the first human in the world to defeat an apostle."

The founder of the [Lesin Great Labyrinth] and the leader of the liberators.

To face her head-on, yet be completely subdued by her sheer strength, without resorting to tactics or any other means, must have been the most shocking fact ever to the apostles.

"How did you defeat him? Specifically, how did you defeat him?"

"Uh, um... I'm not sure about that. It's a lot of noise... I just saw Miss Meredith reaching out her hand, and the next moment, everything went dark, and that's where this memory ends."

"Perhaps they crushed the apostle with gravity magic. Tsk, not worth considering."

"No wonder. Even now, she can easily defeat apostles. When she was in active service, her abilities must have been even more formidable. It's unimaginable."

But then again, it's really reassuring that such a powerful person agreed to join the war.

I heard that she turned herself into a golion in order to survive for a long time...

"By the way, when Miss Meredith was still human, she was a very beautiful girl..."

""impossible.""

"What's the meaning!?"

I was rejected before I even finished speaking. What the hell is going on?!

"Miss Kaori, listen carefully. That guy's abilities are indeed genuine. But his personality is incredibly twisted, completely crooked."

"So, there's no way someone like that could be a beautiful girl. QED (Proof Complete)."

"Don't let it end like this! I'm telling the truth! She was also so heroic when she defeated the apostles, and her hair and eyes were also—"

"No! I won't listen! I absolutely refuse to admit that Meredith is actually a handsome and powerful beautiful girl!"

"Miledi is just an annoying smiling masked golem! That's enough! Stop trying to destroy our brains!"

"Is it that serious!?"

What kind of injustice did he and they suffer in the [Lesin Great Maze]?

I was kind of looking forward to talking to this guy, but now I'm dreading it...

"What else? Anything else you found?"

Hajime asked, deliberately changing the subject.

"...Let me take a closer look."

I concentrated my attention and delved deeper. As expected, the details of past battles and information related to the apostles had been completely erased. However, perhaps, like Miss Meredith's information just now, even fragments could reveal clues. Thinking this, I increased the power of "Intelligence Insight" and, rather than exploring memories, focused on investigating physical information, examining what kind of damage the apostles had suffered in the past.

Then, my five senses gradually became blurred. Even the touch of Hajime-san's hand holding mine, the warmth of Shia's hand supporting my back, the breathing and voices of both of them, gradually faded away from my consciousness and disappeared.

It was like stepping into a TV screen filled with noise. This feeling scared me a little. I encouraged myself to keep going.

Then, slowly, I saw the image.

It was a fragment of a battle from the past. Throughout history, only a handful of people had the resolve to touch the Apostle.

Although I couldn't see my opponent clearly, I knew that my body was injured.

Burned, crushed, chopped, shattered, and sealed.

Also, a large number of... apostles... disappeared one after another towards the center of the gravity vortex?

Ah, no. I can't escape. I can't break free. This black vortex will inevitably destroy me. I'll be sucked into the darkness—

"Kaori."

A beautiful voice called to me, soft and gentle like a whisper. Suddenly, my vision changed completely.

Ah, that was a close call. It was completely in sync. I'd almost accepted the injuries and deaths suffered by the Apostles in past battles as my own.

I broke out in a cold sweat, nearly swallowed by the fear of memory, making my breathing rapid and disordered... Huh? Nothing? I can't even move my body? Not only that -

"Yue. It's so late, what's wrong with you?"

My mouth actually started moving on its own! This inexplicable situation almost threw me into confusion.

But that was only for a moment. The brilliant golden figure that appeared in my field of vision instantly calmed me down. After I calmed down, I finally understood.

What I hear is the sound of waves. What I see before my eyes is the dark sea, and on the horizon is a sky full of stars.

There was also a beautiful woman, whose golden hair swayed in the wind, shimmering slightly under the night sky.

This is... my own memory.

The night after we explored the underwater ruins, late at night when everyone was asleep, I spotted Yue out on her own, so I followed her out. This is the memory of that night. Yue was sitting alone on the pier, gazing at the night sky and sea, when I called out to her.

Perhaps my instinct sensed that continuing to explore my memories would be dangerous, and I automatically shifted my consciousness to my own memories. But... why this memory?

I was confused. Furthermore, being completely transported into my past was overwhelming. But I didn't know how to return to reality, and for some reason, I had no desire to go back. The emotions now welling up in me made me want to relive what was about to happen next, that vivid memory.

"...Hmm~? Maybe it's because you seem eager to talk to me."

Yue turned around, a mischievous smile on her face. Her look was so captivating that even a homosexual couldn't help but be moved.

She was right. I'd always wanted to talk to Yue alone, waiting for the chance. I hadn't expected her to be able to read my mind and quietly create the opportunity for me. She was so cunning.

She may look younger than me, but moments like this always make me realize she's truly an adult, a mature woman. This makes me feel a bit reluctant, yet also incredibly envious.

Of course, I would never tell her!

"How should I put this... I, I want to get to know you better."

Seeing my past self blushing, I blushed too. Why did you make it seem like I was about to confess?! — I couldn't help but complain to myself.

“…Oh? Isn’t this about Hajime?”

"Of course I know about Hajime-kun!"

“…How arrogant.”

Yue chuckled and patted the seat next to him.

I murmured a "hmm" in response, imitating Yue, and sat down beside her. My inexplicable shyness led me to act childishly, which only made me feel even more embarrassed. I still remember how I felt at that time.

However, Yue didn't seem offended by my attitude. Instead, she looked at me as if I were a cute child and chuckled softly.

Looking back objectively now, Yue must have seen through my thoughts at that time.

In the underwater ruins, I felt the gap between myself and the moon, and my heart was filled with inferiority and awkwardness.

However, I eventually came to terms with it, and because of that, I wanted to get to know my rival better. Only then was I able to truly face Yue as a person. And Yue accepted me as I was.

Later, Yue told me a lot.

Including what I had heard before, that she was once a queen, and her experiences in the abyss.

And what she felt when Shichu opened the sealed door. And how she felt when Shichu gave her a name. Yue told me so much about the important parts of her heart and her tender emotions.

At the same time, Yue also asked about my feelings in return. She also asked about the memories I had mentioned, including my feelings and thoughts at that time. She listened to me very carefully, as if she could empathize with me.

I think it was at this time that Yue and I developed a sense of empathy.

Talking about the person you like with each other is like showing off your treasures. That time was so happy that we were so engrossed in the conversation that we didn't even notice the sky was turning pale.

As we watched the dawn light rise above the horizon, we naturally fell silent. It was almost time to go back—in this atmosphere, I stood up first. My state of mind at that moment was so calm that even I was surprised. By then, I must have become quite frank.

"Yue. I think the relationship between you and Hajime-kun must be what's called a perfect match."

"Than...what?"

"It means the bond between a man and a woman is so strong that they will never separate, just like a male and female bird flying side by side, or like the branches of two trees connected and becoming one."

Yue raised her head and looked at me with calm eyes as I stood up first.

"So...are you going to give up?"

Hearing her ask this, I turned my back to the morning sun, as if letting the sunlight push me, and finally said this to her.

"No, I'm officially declaring war on you! I'll never leave Kaichi-kun! I'll carve out a place for myself in his heart! I won't let you have him all to yourself!"

Yue squinted her eyes, as if looking at something dazzling, probably because of the sunlight. At that time, I felt from the bottom of my heart that her expression was very gentle.

The sunlight became increasingly dazzling, filling the entire field of vision.

Before I knew it, I was somewhere else. It was night again. The moon and stars seemed incredibly close.

I was looking down, seeing myself lying on the ground, eyes closed, fast asleep. Yue was reaching out to me. Beside me lay Noin's body.

This is... this is the [Sacred Mountain]. This should be the memory of my death and the transfer of my soul into the body of the apostle.

"Kaori...you idiot~idiot~reckless~"

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