A message arrived from Gii saying that Myourenji had died.

We, who had already moved near the hotel, destroyed all the security cameras in sync with the timing.

And we approached the building all at once.

It was then that an explosion suddenly occurred.

"Uwaaaah!?"

"What is this all of a sudden!?"

"A falling out among them?"

"No... it's probably Hiyami san."

"A companion of yours!"

"It looks like those two over there are going to attack with us too."

As I started running again, Nemusia, Inoue san, and Akabane san immediately followed.

When we infiltrated the inside of the hotel through the hole opened thanks to the bomb, Hiyami san was there, leaning against the wall.

The moment she saw me, she gave a refreshing greeting, showing her white teeth with a "Hey."

"Who is this person? An ally?"

"She is Hiyami san."

"The first-year who you said hid herself and was helping us from behind the scenes, right."

"Rather than helping, our goals just aligned. Erika senpai, could I ask you for a quick introduction of those three?"

Come to think of it, this would be her first time meeting Nemusia and Inoue san.

Well, we had only indirectly noticed Hiyami san's presence and hadn't been communicating with each other.

"The blonde girl is Nemusia Adrak. A princess from another world. She excels at magic."

"I'm counting on you."

She asked for a quick introduction, so I'll leave out the part about Yumemi chan's body for now.

"This is Inoue Yoshino san. A police officer who was at the amusement park, and she excels at close combat."

"...Is that really all?"

"For now, yes."

Because explaining the circumstances here would be complicated too.

"And this is Akabane san. An amusement park employee whose daughter was kidnapped by Suguro and his group. He's a party member but doesn't have the power to fight."

"I-I look forward to working with you."

"Nice to meet you. One is normal, and the other two have complicated circumstances, but they're allies, I take it."

"I think that's a fine way to understand it."

"What a rough way to categorize us."

Setting aside the dissatisfied Nemusia.

Since the opponent is in a state of confusion, I want to move as quickly as possible.

"Hiyami san, could you go with Akabane san to save the people who were kidnapped?"

"I don't mind, I was planning to do that anyway. What will you guys do?"

"I will look for Rea and Ooki."

"What should we do?"

"Could I ask you to deal with them?"

Appearing on the other side of the hallway was a pair of a boy and a girl in school uniforms.

I was informed of the enemy's fighting strength by Gii.

Shiromachi's party member is only Otsuki san, who has low combat ability.

Suguro's party members are two combat personnel.

The two who appeared are probably them.

They are classmates, and I do have the desire to kill them with my own hands, but in the face of the important goal of rescuing Rea and killing Ooki, whether I kill them directly or not is not a big issue.

As long as they ultimately turn into monsters and meet a miserable death, it doesn't matter who does it.

In fact, hearing about Myourenji's outcome, I'm feeling incredibly good right now.

"If you are going to save your 'precious person', Erika, I have no choice but to take this on."

"The way you are saying this is a bit harsh."

"It cannot be helped, my chest feels murky. It might be the feelings of Ikuna Yumemi inside me."

"...I see."

"I am sorry, I made you depressed."

"Don't worry about it. If you're feeling lonely, I'll make it up to you later."

"I-I am not particularly hoping for that! Phew... Now then, Inoue, if it is impossible for you to kill them, you can leave the finishing blow to me."

"No problem. Those guys are pseudo-humans wearing the skins of monsters, right? Besides, the lives of the hostages and Hiiro are on the line. This is no time to be hesitating!"

Inoue san readied her tonfas and pointed the tips at the opponents.

"I'll hit them with a big one right off the bat. Missile Shot!"

When she activated the skill, the baton part of the tonfa suddenly enlarged and transformed into a missile-like shape.

And while spewing jet propulsion, it rapidly accelerated and flew towards the enemies.

"So that's a tonfa, huh."

Hiyami san is bewildered.

I feel exactly the same way.

And the two who suddenly had a missile fired at them were also entering a defensive posture in a huge panic.

Seeing that situation, Hiyami san and I exchanged signals with our eyes.

Hiyami san picked up Akabane san's body, carrying him princess-style, and started running.

"Why am I being carried!?"

"Bear with it. Originally, my only princess is Marin."

"I have absolutely no idea what you're talking about..."

I also ran parallel to her.

When we closed about half the distance to the enemies, the missile landed and exploded.

While being hindered by the intense blast, we used the billowing smoke to slip past the enemies' sides and reached the stairs.

"Since those three have gone, it is my turn. Overcast, Tornado!"

When she held up her staff, a glowing green magic circle appeared, and from there a swirling wind extended toward the opponents.

The skill Nemusia used, Overcast, is a skill that increases the power of the next magic used in exchange for increasing its MP consumption.

However, her MP was not consumed at all.

Because due to the effect of another skill, Magic Master, she can use magic without consuming MP at fixed time intervals.

The enhanced "Tornado" enveloped the hallway where the two enemies stood in a twister in the blink of an eye.

Naturally, it was not just a swirl of wind.

It was like a high-speed rotating cutter that tears apart anyone who touches it without exception.

It violently scraped away not only the enemies, but also the walls, floor, and ceiling.

"Phew, doing it flashy, aren't we."

"As expected of someone specialized in Magic Power."

Hiyami san, who had just started climbing the stairs in the nick of time, shrugged her shoulders upon seeing that overwhelming power.

"Th-That's ridiculous... by the way, could you put me down soon?"

"I apologize for not being able to provide a comfortable escort."

For some reason, Hiyami san apologized while smiling refreshingly and put Akabane san down.

And when the three of us climbed up to the second floor—I noticed a black shadow falling from overhead.

"Erika senpai, look out!"

"Wait!"

I stop Hiyami san, who was trying to intercept it with Gyges, with my hand.

The black object that fell plastered itself onto my body with a splat, immediately took on a human shape, and hugged me tightly with both hands.

"Erika, it's been a while!"

"Don't startle me, Gii."

"Gishishi, I wanted to surprise you. A live Erika is the best after all!"

"hehe, good work. Thanks for moving exactly as instructed."

"No problem, it was fun seeing Shiromachi get deceived and self-destruct up close!"

Even while saying that, Gii looks happy to be reunited with me.

When she's this attached to me, I don't feel bad about it either.

When I hugged her back and patted her head, Gii laughed even more cheerfully with a "Gishishishi."

Meanwhile, Hiyami san, who was in a hurry, left us behind and climbed the stairs.

"I'll go on ahead, Erika senpai, Gii senpai."

"U-Um, what on earth is that creature?"

"You're coming with me too, mister, to fulfill your duty."

"Ah, understood..."

And exchanging such words with Akabane san, she headed to the third floor.

Because Ooki dotes on Rea, she shouldn't be killed immediately.

But I don't know what will happen to the hostages.

Because it wouldn't be strange if someone, desperate after losing their companions, massacred them all.

"Senpai?"

"Probably because you're in Inuzuka senpai's body."

"Gishishi, I'm a senpai, huh. Feels pretty good. I'm glad I ate Inuzuka!"

"Rather than ate, I fused you, though."

"Oh right. Thanks Erika, thanking you once again!"

Gii clung to me again and acted playfully.

I'm glad she's happy about our reunion, but I have to go look for Rea quickly.

While we were having this exchange, I felt a person's presence on the other side of the hallway.

Gii seemed to feel it at the same time, separating her body from mine for a moment and peeking from the shadow of the wall.

"It's Shiromachi."

The one there was—Shiromachi kun, who had sustained injuries in his battle with the ruin of Myourenji.

"His face is pale. He has no energy."

"Haha... in this situation, he must know he made a mistake killing Myourenji. Of course he'd be depressed."

"What's more, Shiromachi found out his inside is a monster."

"Ah, that must have been a shock too."

"A chance to kill him?"

"It looks like it would be troublesome if he turned into a monster, but can I ask you to do it, Gii?"

"If Erika is fine with that."

Gii seems to be considerate of me, asking 'Is it okay if you don't kill him yourself?'.

It's true that I have the desire to kill him, one of the perpetrators who kidnapped Yumemi chan.

But there's no way I can put Rea on the back burner.

"I have no problem with it. Besides, Shiromachi must hold a grudge against you, Gii, for actually leaking information to us and even killing Okada kun. I'm sure Shiromachi will be more frustrated to be killed by an opponent like that."

"I see, I'm definitely hated. Shiromachi getting killed by someone he hates, he'll definitely make a good face!"

As expected of Gii, she understands well.

"Then Gii, I leave it to you."

"Leave it to me."

She happily returned to the hallway and revealed herself in front of Shiromachi.

He widened his eyes in surprise, but immediately gritted his teeth, tightly clenched his fists, and bared his anger.

"I thought Inuzuka chan was the only impossible one... Why. Why would someone of our kind like Inuzuka chan betray us!"

"Gishishi, because I'm not Inuzuka."

Hooking a finger on the corner of her mouth, Gii stretched her cheek with a squelch.

To a length absolutely impossible for a human.

The stretched part discolored to black, turning into slime.

Shiromachi kun widened his eyes, staring at that phenomenon.

"What the hell is that, you're a monster! Where did Inuzuka chan go? What the hell are you!"

"Inuzuka is inside me, she's pleasantly screaming 'Let me out' right now too. But she will never get out for the rest of her life. She might be imitated by me, but that girl's soul has no value other than being my pet."

"You monster, how dare you do that to Inuzuka chaaaan!"

Gii, she's really good at angering her opponent.

Not that there's any particular benefit to angering him here, though.

You could call her a natural-born sadist... she really has that side to her.

"In the first place, you call me a monster, but you guys, Shiromachi, are plenty monsters yourselves."

"What did you say...?"

"The current you is just a monster wearing a human's skin. A Gangrene just pretending to be human."

"Wrong! I am me. I am a full-fledged human named Shiromachi Ren, with a heart uniquely my own!"

"Well, you'll understand when you die."

"That's my line. I'll beat you to death! Atoning for my mistakes, and avenging lost lives, I'll accomplish both by killing you!"

As I climb the stairs, the voices of the two fade away.

On the other hand, I could also tell that the intensity of anger in Shiromachi's voice was increasing.

He should be making his move soon, and the battle will begin.

"Hurry up and get riddled with holes and die, you monster! Guns Orbit!"

"Blanket Octopus Whip (Isouben)."

"Hah, sprouting tentacles all over your back. You really are a monster."

"The word monster is not an insult to me. I'm able to be useful to Erika thanks to this body, so being a monster is my pride. Unlike you."

"Shut up, hurry up and die and stay silent—Full Fire!"

The sound of gunfire echoes.

And immediately after, the metallic sound of it being repelled and knocked down by the whips rang out.

As their skills clash, the entire building shakes violently in tandem.

No, that's not all.

Battles taking place in various locations are causing severe tremors throughout this hotel.

Feeling the filling air of the battlefield on my skin, I stood before the suite room that Oki was supposedly using.

◆◆◆

Ever since the hotel exploded violently, the suite room where Ooki was had also been repeatedly struck by large tremors.

(Erika and the others came to save me...!)

Sitting on the bed, Rea immediately realized that.

That's why she is not frightened.

However, perhaps that demeanor rubbed Ooki the wrong way considerably, as she paced around the room with clear irritation.

"Even though Giraiguu sama would take us to the True World if you just stayed quiet. Truly an eyesore."

"Do you really think a place like that exists, Mom?"

"Yes, in fact we are trapped in an alternate space like this. And we were even able to meet Giraiguu sama's main body."

"Why do you seek salvation from something so incomprehensible? If we were together as a family, we should have been happy just with that."

"Seeking a happier world is a natural thing, isn't it? A sense of happiness unobtainable in this world exists in the True World. To the extent that a premise like 'being together as a family' isn't even necessary."

Even if she is a mother who left when she was young, she cannot completely erase her existence from her heart.

Rea thought that if they talked like this, she might be able to see a motherly side to her, even just a little.

But reality was different.

The more they talked, the more the fact that her mother had gone to a faraway place kept piling up.

To the point where not a shred of affection for her mother remained within Rea anymore.

"Besides, Rea, you are someone who belongs on 'this side'. You, who possess Giraiguu sama's genes, can become a higher-dimensional existence in the True World!"

"I don't need anything like that."

"Your lingering attachment to the old world is making you say that. Could it be you still think of that man as your father? That is wrong. Because Rea, you are a child born between Giraiguu sama and me!"

"That's why I'm telling you, enough of that already!"

"What an uncomprehending child. But you should understand once you experience it. I used Runa to raise you that way, after all. You have the aptitude to become an executive of Kaisei kyou more than anyone else, and that simultaneously means you can be happy in the True World—"

"That's why I'm telling you. Your words have absolutely no meaning anymore, Ooki san."

At that form of address, Ooki's cheek twitched with a spasm.

The air in the room also grew tense all at once.

Crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed—Rea also felt that sensation, but still had no intention of stopping.

"My only parent is my Dad, and my only true friend is Erika. The things Ooki san prepared have absolutely no meaning."

"Rea, stop calling me that."

"Why? Don't tell me Ooki san wants to be my mother? How stupid, after you threw everything away yourself."

"That's why I am telling you to stop calling me that!"

"Don't order me around when you aren't even a mother!"

Rea's strong-willed scream echoes.

Normally, this is where Ooki would slap her daughter's cheek, but today was different.

Having come full circle, she spoke sadly with a calm demeanor.

"Rea... ah, Rea. I understand now. I should have taken you with me back then, even by force. I should have let you come in contact with Kaisei kyou from a young age, and let you know the magnificence of Giraiguu sama. I should have separated you from that man!"

She doesn't admit her mistakes as mistakes.

Rather, building upon her past mistakes, Ooki errs even further.

From the sleeve of the clothes she wore, a dull-colored chain smoothly emerged.

As it extended longer than an arm, it touched the floor, making a clinking sound.

"Ah, to think only this kind of method is left anymore."

Rea gulped audibly.

Because she understood that chain was the "weapon" Ooki wielded.

And she declared to Rea with hollow eyes.

"I am going to crush your limbs now. So you cannot escape from here. So you can welcome the correct end."

An overly direct threat.

Rea knew Ooki was serious, but continued to rebel nonetheless.

"Erika will come save me right away."

"I see, then I wonder if you can still say that after this—Chain Binding Prison (Sabakurou)."

Countless chains extended from Ooki's hand and stuck to the walls.

It spread across the entire wall, and the room was completely covered in chains.

"It is a wall of chains that repels physical attacks. No matter what means Kuragane uses, she cannot break through it."

A defensive wall using chains.

Ooki seemed terribly confident.

Not just sturdy, but repelling physical attacks—in other words, as a concept, a knife cannot break through these chains, I suppose.

"She will still come!"

"Acting tough. I do not remember raising you like that."

Ooki held her hand forward.

This time, a chain extending from there wrapped around Rea's right arm.

And began to constrict tightly.

"Kh, guh... uuh..."

"Let us start by breaking your arms. You might be able to move if it is only in one place, so I will break each arm twice."

Intense pressure was applied to her forearm, and the flesh beneath the skin was crushed with a squelch, rupturing blood vessels.

"A, gaaaaah!"

Rea's right arm, as she screamed, caused internal bleeding and was beginning to discolor to purple.

"I do not want to see such a face on my daughter either. Mother's heart hurts very much, you know. Reflect on your actions, Rea."

"Gi, gu... uh, she will come... Erika will, definitely...!"

Rea still gritted her teeth, absolutely refusing to yield.

"If you really think she'll come, try calling for her. If you yell loudly, it might even reach outside, you know?"

Saying that, Ooki strengthened the force of the chains even more.

A creaking sound could be heard from Rea's arm.

"U, a, gu... Eri, ka..."

Amidst unbearable pain, with tears streaming down her face, Rea screamed desperately.

"Save me, Erikaaaaaaa!"

It's a skill I learned anticipating the fight against Suguro, but it can be used against anyone if they're a tough enemy.

I stabbed the wall with all my might, and rather than "shredding" it, I blew right through the wall using the impact of the collision.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!"

I hurled the hollowed-out piece of wall towards Ooki, who was extending her chains towards Rea.

"No way, she really came!? Kh, Flowing Chain Dance (Ryuusamai)!"

She released Rea, then made the chains extending from her arm undulate to parry the flying wall.

While pouncing at Ooki, I checked Rea's situation for just an instant.

She had suffered a painful-looking wound on her arm.

It's entirely unforgivable—on top of putting Yumemi chan through that, to hurt Rea too.

Ooki, no matter how many times I kill you, it will never be enough!

"Drop dead, Ookiiiiiiiiii!"

I naturally let out a roar.

As if directly turning the anger welling up from my stomach into a voice.

And I thrust Dreamer aimed at Ooki's heart.

"Like I would die—until I reach the True World!"

Ooki hurriedly created a shield of chains in front of herself, layering it multiple times to guard.

Perhaps because I used up some power destroying the wall, the knife couldn't pierce through the entirety of that shield.

However, the "impact" of the collision definitely transmitted to Ooki's body, blowing her away and causing her to crash back-first into the wall.

"Guuh... To be hindered by the likes of Kuragane, a mere sacrifice...!"

"Erikaaaa!"

Rea runs up from behind me.

I turned around and caught her.

I immediately cast Healing, treating the wound on her arm.

"Sorry I'm late."

"You aren't late at all! You really came to save me when I called... it truly feels like a dream. Thank you, Erika. Erikaaa...!"

Overcome with emotion, Rea shed tears and buried her face in my chest.

Her voice, and the gaze directed at me, seem to hold a sense of absolute trust.

Rea thanks me, but the fact that she was taken away in the first place means I'm not that impressive.

However, the heat I feel in my chest, and the restless ticklishness—to the point where offering excuses would be useless, I was overjoyed and elated to be thought of like that by Rea.

My cheeks naturally loosen into a smile.

Seeing my smile, Rea raised her face and smiled bashfully, "Ehehe," looking happy.

Then Ooki stood up, glaring at us reproachfully.

"Kuragane... not only is your existence unpleasant, but to outrageously seduce Rea. I should have offered you to Giraiguu sama much sooner."

Facing her, Rea and I held hands, intertwined our fingers, and exchanged words.

"Rea, will you kill Ooki together with me?"

"Yeah... I will. If it's for you, Erika, killing that person is a simple thing."

How much must Ooki have been hurt by just those words.

"Kill...? Rea, you, whom I bore with the pain of childbirth, are going to kill me!?"

Murderous intent directed from her beloved daughter.

That expression looking at me with eyes mad with jealousy and filled with hatred!

Nice, Ooki.

Welcoming death amidst those utterly miserable emotions is what's most fitting for you!

"I will not forgive this. An existence with a life worth no more than bait, stealing Rea away from me! Atone for your sins and die, Kuraganeeeeee!"

Ooki's chains extending with fierce murderous intent.

Me and Rea, who had become a party member once again, readied our respective weapons to intercept the sworn enemy we must kill.