”…… Right. The Captain was being manipulated by someone…… to slay him…… I, I……”
“That’s right, Alice! Didn’t you swear to become Ouga Veret’s blade and destroy evil!?”
”…… I…… Lord Ouga…… blade…… name……”
She repeated my words like sleep-talk.
The [Brainwashing] was breaking — consciousness as Alice and Chris blurring……!
I can push this through——
“——Face this way, Chris Lagnica!”
”——!? Damn……!”
Chris’s head snapped toward Andrews.
That bastard……! He’d preserved mana for dark magic……!
Desperately, I extended my arm to break her line of sight with him.
Glancing over — Father and Reina were leaping toward Andrews to subdue him.
“Discarding my other pieces, I’ll give you ALL my mana! Kill Ouga Veret, Chris Lagnica!”
Please……! Let it fail……!
But my prayer didn’t reach.
”——”
A single stroke.
A sharp downward cut bit into my arm — the one I’d extended to block her line of sight.
“Ggh…… aaaaa!”
I bit through the searing pain and focused all attention on mana control.
Her blade stopped at half the arm.
Close……! A moment more and [Gear Change · Hard] would have been too slow — she’d have severed it.
But — the sword is now fixed!
Time to gamble……!
“I’ll take your sword right here!”
”…………!”
I pulled my arm back, dragging her body with the sword.
In this close range, a long sword is a disadvantage.
But she didn’t let go of the sword.
“Heh heh heh! Finally facing me properly!”
With my other hand, I pressed against her sword-hand.
But Chris wouldn’t release it, wouldn’t shake me off.
She just kept pulling the sword from my arm in single-minded fury.
”…… So even brainwashed, this sword matters to you.”
The name Captain Lily she’d let slip in her earlier loosening — must be the admired commander she once spoke of.
This sword too — passed down by Captain Lily.
When I mocked it earlier, she’d argued back.
So as Chris Lagnica or Alice, this is precious.
My read was perfect.
“Sorry. Even brainwashed, the root stays the same.”
”…………”
”…… What? Quiet now, unlike before.”
”…………”
She gave no answer.
She just struggled to pull out the sword.
…… Andrews said I’ll give all my mana. Did the [Brainwashing] strengthen, taking even the faint remaining self……?
If this isn’t about the sword’s emotional weight but pure command-execution to recover her weapon——
…… Andrews! How far will you mock people……!
”…… It’s all right, Alice. I’ll free you from this suffering.”
Suppressing fountain-anger, I spoke gently.
The magic has reached such deep, deep places.
To dispel it, I must give my all.
Meaning I have to release [Gear Change · Hard] that’s holding the sword.
A brief hesitation — conclusion came fast.
“Fine. My right arm is yours, Alice.”
Resolve set, I gradually shifted mana to [Magecraft Funeral (Delete)].
The sword inside my arm began to move slowly.
Each motion brought flesh-tearing pain, almost making me lose consciousness, but I bit my lip and endured.
…… Having your everything denied, being made a pure puppet — the suffering must be many times worse.
So endure this pain with a calm face……!
If I’m truly the man Alice said would seize the world, I won’t whine over this!!
“That day, you swore — you’d be my blade.”
The more my arm pain grew, the more [Magecraft Funeral]‘s effect intensified.
Black darkness left Alice’s body.
The clouded, muddy eyes regained their beauty.
What they reflected was no longer Andrews.
“From that day on, all of you is mine.”
”…… Ah…… ahh……”
“So I don’t accept your resignation. Until I permit it, you swing your sword for me!”
”…… Ga…… ah…… ma……”
“Your life…… past, future, and this pain too — I’ll carry all of it alongside you……! So!”
”…… Uga…… ah…… ma……”
“Remember…… your master’s name.”
”…… Ouga……-sa…… ma……”
”…… You really are the finest blade.”
Before [Magecraft Funeral] erased Andrews’s magic completely, her will broke through first.
For the final push, I pulled Alice close.
“Now — come back, my blade (Alice).”
The moment I said it, [Gear Change · Hard] dropped fully and all my mana poured into [Magecraft Funeral].
The sword that had been frozen moved — about to slice the rest of my arm — but stopped.
A clatter as it fell.
Her arms had wrapped around my back.
”…… I am home, my lord (Ouga).”
”…… Welcome back, Alice.”
Hearing her voice as if for the first time in ages, I held her tighter.