Chapter 1042 - ....................
The moment we saw it, none of us had any certainty.
However, the moment we saw it, I was certain our hearts were in sync.
"... ... ... ... ... !"
The only word that came to mind was "Goal." Furthermore...
"Run! All the way to the foot of the tower!"
The knight who was at the rear, not even out of breath, shouted with a voice that seemed to push our backs.
In that instant, the concept of pacing vanished from everyone's thoughts.
"...! Nia, hang in there!"
"Huff, huff, hiii!"
Ashe, who was running just behind Nia, looked ready to scoop her up and run if she happened to trip. Nia was at a point where it wouldn't be strange if she collapsed the next second.
"Yeah, hang in there! Sora, huff... seriously, hang in there!"
"... ! ... ! ... !"
Compared to those two, the rest of us were just as desperate.
My virtual breathing was a mess, even if my side didn't hurt. I couldn't afford to care about appearances. I pulled Sora's hand as if she were about to be run over, dragging her along.
"Huff... phew... ! Hey, Sir Knight! If someone trips in front of us..."
"I will take the right! Lord Tiger, you take the left and scoop them up!"
"You've got it!"
They were incredibly manly, or rather, just plain courageous. The two rearguards shouted as they ran.
We ran, and ran, and ran. We ran for a distance that seemed infinite, over a hundred meters that we could normally have crossed in an instant if we had our regular power.
We were being hounded by the giant pressure and tremors that were right behind us.
"... ... ... Nngh!"
Nia, who had been leading the way, reached her absolute limit. She had lost both choice and thought, and her body finally flew into the air in an awkward way.
But the prince with the princess's face caught her in her arms with a movement that defied understanding. The scene of a beautiful girl's face-plant was transformed into a scene from a painting.
One beat, two beats from that moment.
"Gah!"
"Ah, ugh... !?"
I followed the lead of the blue girl and performed a life-or-death non-beautiful girl face-plant, becoming a cushion for my partner as she tumbled in.
"Hah... and stay out, you bastard!"
Tora-kichi, who looked to be in the same state of physical exhaustion as me despite his bravado, tumbled in next to us.
"... Everyone!"
And next to him. Kendy-dono, who still looked like he had energy to spare, came to a sudden halt.
He looked back, glaring at our rear. He stood at the very front as we lay there, essentially dead.
"... Well done. You were truly impressive."
He looked genuinely happy.
At the same moment he praised us with a satisfied look...
The black mass, which had been filling the hallway and advancing like a tsunami without slowing down, crashed into the faint light barrier... the结界 (barrier)... surrounding the tower. The other side was painted solid black.
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... ... ...
"... Kendy-dono."
"Yes."
"Is this... really okay?"
"Do not worry. That thing can never step across the boundary."
And so, we stayed in that state for several minutes.
At the foot of the Wedge we had reached as our goal, the black mass had filled one side of the hallway, while our side was safe behind the barrier. I asked the question on behalf of everyone's anxiety, and my friend Kendy nodded without a hint of doubt.
"This Wedge... was created by Grie-sama dividing her own body, given power by Aqua-sama, and made eternal by Nortalia-sama. It is a bridge of divine messengers. The Black can never be invited here."
He showed us...
"I repeat, do not worry, esteemed guests... We only embrace the children of Helia, which you are, and the children of the Goddess, which we are. It is a true absolute protection."
He showed... ...
"Eh?"
"Hmm?"
"Ah?"
"Huh..."
"What?"
I'm not sure whose voice was whose. We were all so dazed that we couldn't even tell which sound came from our own mouths.
"""""What do you mean?!"""""
Yeah, that. Exactly.
It was as sudden and fierce as the speed of light. From the mouth of the virtual world's knight, who had been so silent until now, words poured out like a waterfall.
He brought us secrets of the world that we had no way of knowing. Our thoughts were completely frozen.
And the culprit, the knight of the Thousand Memories... after looking at the five faces staring at him with their mouths agape...
"... There are too many things to tell. And too many things that are meaningless to tell."
He had a smile I knew, and a smile I didn't. He combined both colors.
"If it is here, I can tell you. But since it is here, there is no meaning in telling you. ... However, if you have questions, I shall answer. As long as it is something you can gain."
His words were incomprehensible.
But a faint, unknown premonition lingered.
I felt that from this moment... someone's true purpose had begun.