Chapter 392: n o a l t e r n a t i v e

Yomibito———- burst apart.

You could even say he exploded.

Their armor-like carapace shattered into pieces, and crimson blood followed in its wake.

The white chunks of flesh inside the carapace also burst and scattered.

All of their arms, now torn apart, fell to the ground.

Even the legs remaining from the knees down fell, like a tower tilting, ended up collapsing.

Yomibito's remnants…… after emitting smoke, it melted away.

Unlike the Deities, Divine Servants dissolve upon receiving fatal wounds, just like Sacraments.

In other words——— this was a sign of their death.

The pitch-black wall blocking the passage was also melting away.

Since the appearance of that wall, Yomibito had ceased their pillar attacks.

It was probably unable to attack because it was using them as a wall to block the passage.

What could be the reason it was so intent on preventing our escape, even discarding their ability to use that pillar attack……

Was the ensured death of us sisters ordered by Vysis?

Or perhaps, was there some other reason?

Of course, the true reason remains unclear.

But thanks to that reason———

Those pillar attacks could be excluded from our battle.

[We….. did it……]

Itsuki, whose hand had stopped mid-swing, spoke.

Just then……

[ ! Elder Sis!? Your right arm……!]

Everything beyond my right elbow was gone.

Had they snapped back just before I activated my skill?

As I can't feel any pain, I don’t know what happened inside.

Perhaps due to the lack of pain sensation, I didn’t feel anything.

But well, as expected, my body was definitely screaming in agony.

Sweat trickled down my cheek, and my disheveled hair was sticking to me.

I took a cord out of the pocket of my Fly Knight outfit, tying it around the base of my arm to stop the bleeding.

[It's okay…… Fortunately, I don't feel any pain……]

Originally, the intention behind requesting casted on me was different.

I never would have imagined it would be useful in creating an opening in the enemy's defenses.

In this battle……

With multiple lacerations and the loss of my right arm……

(No……)

Our loss is just one single arm huh.

I was able———- to avoid having to part with my sister.

That's good enough for me.

[It's over, Itsuki.]

[U- Unn……]

Itsuki deactivated her state.

Glancing at the head of Yomibito lying on the ground, I asked……

[……How about you? Will you be able to continue fighting?]

[Ah——– Errr…… I might not be able to……. Actually, my MP is already……]

Itsuki’s MP had dropped to zero.

While her state was active, it didn't consume MP.

However, deactivating would apparently drain the MP from the Status Correction.

It appears that only the MP from the Status Correction is lost when it drops to zero.

Since Itsuki’s consciousness was clear, she still had some MP remaining.

That said, it wasn’t just MP that was depleted.

Itsuki herself was exhausted as well.

Besides……

[Me too…… my role in this final battle seems to be over……]

I lost strength on my knees.

[Elder Sis!]

Itsuki rushed over and caught me before I fell face-first.

I ended up kneeling on the ground, my body leaning against Itsuki.

[We…… are done here.]

[We've done enough, didn't we…… We both……]

[We had managed to avoid letting that Divine Servant encounter the other intruders——— I think. Even just that should count as a significant contribution……]

[Unn——— Unn.]

Perhaps……

If it had been Mimori Touka or Sogou Ayaka, maybe they could have taken down the Yomibito more easily?

For a brief moment, their faces popped into my mind.

[………………]

Looking over, the Yomibito had only one golden eye left.

An inorganic golden eye.

In that eye, our battered selves were reflected.

Eventually———- that remaining golden eye also evaporated and vanished.

Still leaning against Itsuki, I hugged her with my remaining left arm.

[Again…… you did well, Itsuki. Winning this battle against Yomibito…… was thanks to you.]

Itsuki hugged me back.

[That's not true, isn't it…… We won together…… the two of us. Elder Sis said it, didn't you? That the two of us are one…… sniff……]

[……This girl, crying again. But well……. Alright. For now, I’ll affirm everything about you……]

Itsuki started crying.

While hugging each other, kneeling on the ground———— I gently patted Itsuki on the back.

[When we return to the original world.]

[Mmm.]

[We should start trying various things together.]

[Mmm.]

[Well then——— ……Let's rest for a bit?]

While Itsuki calmed down, I gently embraced her.

Our bodies supporting each other, neither of us moved from that spot.

We stayed like this for a while.

It might have only been a few minutes, or perhaps even less.

Still———–

With our eyes closed in each other's embrace, our minds fluttered in our own time.

Thereupon, Itsuki timidly spoke.

[Umm, Elder Sis……]

[Hmm?]

[I couldn't…… hear your voice, I mean……]

Itsuki muttered a bit shyly, then continued.

[So, umm…… I'd like to…… properly hear it again……]

Us twins are beings that resonate with each other.

It may just be our hunch, but we can somewhat understand each other’s desires.

That's why……

I quickly understood what Itsuki wanted to hear.

After all……

For the two of us———

The other is our beloved twin who couldn't be replaced by anyone.

Thus, with a smile on my lips, I spoke.

[ I love you. ]