The metal disc shook slightly, but it did rise. All the emotions on the girl's face were hidden, and when one wind element disappeared, she immediately generated a new wind element, and released another wind elemental. How many times had she repeated the phrase "Burst" in the ascent and descent so far, and though Yugeo had thought about it, it was certainly more than he could imagine.

"You...... What's your name? Lin Yiyan asked suddenly. The girl tilted her head, and after about the longest time so far, she replied a little, "Name...... Already forgotten. Everyone called me 'Lifter'. Lifter ...... That's my name. ”

It seems that Lin Yiyan didn't find an answer. Yugeo, who counted the balconies he had passed by, said in the urge to say something as he got past the 20th balcony, "...... That...... That, we'...... It's to bring down the big men of the Congregational Church. He who commanded you to do this vocation. ”

"Is that so?" That's all the girl's echo. However, Eugeo continued to ask the question, which was probably meaningless, "What if...... Without the church, what would you do if you were liberated from this vocation......? ”

“…… Liberate......? The girl named Ascendant repeated the word meaninglessly, and then fell silent. At this time, the disc passed through five more balconies. Yugeo looked up and saw that before he knew it, he was at a place where he could see the gray ceiling. There's the bottom of the 80th floor—finally getting to the heart of the Congregational Church.

"I ...... I don't know anything about the world beyond this lifting platform. Inadvertently, the girl said in a weak voice, "Therefore...... Have you decided you want to accept a new vocation...... But if you want to do it, if that means......"

The girl lifted her face, which had been lowered, and looked over her shoulders at the slender window—at the northern sky that afternoon, "...... In that sky...... Fly freely with this lifting plate......"

The dark blue eyes of the girl I saw for the first time were as deep as the summer sky.

Before the last wind elemental flickered and vanished, the disc reached the thirtieth balcony and came to a gentle halt. The girl, named Lifter, put her hand from the glass tube to her apron and bowed deeply, "I've kept you waiting, this is the 80th Cloud Garden." ”

“…… Thank you. Yougeo and Lin Yiyan nodded together and walked from the disc to the balcony.

The girl's face didn't lift up again, she just nodded, letting the faint wind elemental lower the disc. With the sound of a strong wind in the distance, this small world of steel, sealed in eternity, disappeared into the pale blue darkness.

Yugeo let out a long sigh, "...... I thought that my previous vocation with no end in sight was the worst ...... in the world."

Hearing his self-talk, Lin Yiyan, who raised his eyebrows, looked over, "You can't retire when you are old enough to wield an axe...... It's not the same thing at all, compared to that kid......"

"Even if the natural diminishing destiny is frozen by magic, Cardinal has said that the aging of the soul is inevitable. Memories will slowly erode, and eventually the soul will collapse. Lin Yiyan, who replied in a deep voice, turned vigorously as if he wanted to cut off his thoughts, and turned his back to the deep shaft.

"This Congregational Church is hopelessly wrong. That's why we're here to bring down the Administrator. However, that doesn't mean it's over by defeating her, Yugeo. The real conundrum, after this......"

"Ah......? If you defeat the Administrator, wouldn't it be okay to hand it over to Ms. Cardinal just now? Eugeo asked. Lin Yiyan moved his lower lips because he wanted to say something, and his always decisive face hesitated, and then he lowered his head.

"Yi Yan......?"

“…… No, the rest will have to wait until Alice is recaptured. Now there is no time to think about these senseless things. ”

"This ...... Having said that...... Lin Yiyan began to walk briskly on the balcony as if he wanted to escape the sight of Yugeo, who tilted his head. Feeling that he didn't understand very well, Yugeo chased after him, but when he saw the gate erected at the end of the short balcony, the tension and all kinds of doubts that came up were instantly blown away.

Judging by the number of knights gathered on the 50th floor, the person in command of the defense against the invaders, the "senator" that Fanadeo called him, was probably going to stop the two of them there anyway. In fact, the onslaught of breaking through Fanatheus was nothing more than a paper-thin fluke. After breaking through that defensive line and coming to this place close to the top, the patriarch must be about to dispatch the top combat power. Even if you open this door and find a large gathering of all the knights below the chief knight, the priests or the monks, and other high-ranking divine magicians, such a situation is quite likely.

However, there is no other choice but to break down all the obstacles in front of you.

It must be possible - as long as it is me and Yi Yan. Eugeo looked at his partner standing next to him and nodded. Both of them reached out at the same time and placed their hands on the doors on the left and right.

With a heavy sound, the stone door was opened.

“……！” Suddenly, the unfolding colors, gurgling water, and swirls of fragrance all hit Ugeo, making him feel dizzy for a moment. It's obviously in the tower, yes. Proof of this is the same white marble walls on all sides as below.

However, this huge floor does not have a single stone slab as smooth as the one below. Instead, it is overgrown with lush and soft green grass. A little farther away is full of colorful sacred flowers, which is where the fragrance comes from.

Surprisingly, a little further away there is a small river with a bright glow on the water. From the gate where the two stood, the brick path curved through the grass and the wooden bridge over the creek stretched forward.

There is a small hill on the other side of the river. The path is covered with flower-filled slopes that stretch upwards like a snake. Eugeo looked along the path and saw a tree growing at the top of the hill.

It's not a tall tree. The thin branches are covered with green leaves and have small, cross-shaped orange flowers. The sunlight filtered in through the windows on the wall next to the high ceiling, and now it was projecting right onto the trees, and countless flowers shone like gold ornaments.

The thin trunk of the tree shimmered in the sunlight and shone silkily - near the roots, there was a particularly dazzling golden glow -

"Love ............" Yugeo didn't realize that the thin voice was leaking out of his mouth. From the moment he saw a girl with her eyes closed and her back to the trunk of a tree, all thinking stopped.

Like a fantasy created by the slanting sunlight shining through the leaves of the trees, the girl's whole body was painted with golden yellow by the sun. The ornate armor covering the upper body and arms was made of silver inlaid with gold, the long white skirt was sewn with gold thread, and the white leather boots reflected the sunlight.

But, more than anything else, was the long flowing and voluminous hair on the armor. The long, straight hair that looks like a pure gold melt spreads from a small head that depicts a perfect arc to the ends of the hair that touches the lawn, emitting a god-like waterfall of light.

In the distant past, the brilliance seen every day. The noble, dreamlike hair that knots into twigs. The golden radiance that symbolizes friendship, longing, and vague admiration purifies the weakness, ugliness, and timidity of Eugeo that day represents. And that light, which should never have been possible to see again, is now within reach.

"Love...... Etude ...... Silk ......" Yugeo didn't notice the hoarse voice leaking from his mouth, and staggered out of his steps.

He staggered along the brick path. Whether it is the refreshing fragrance of the sacred flower or the light sound of the water, it can no longer be transmitted to Yugeo's consciousness. Only the heat of the sweaty hand held on his chest, and the touch of the dagger that seemed to beat behind the cloth, held Yugeo and the world together.

Eugeo crossed the bridge over the creek and ascended the ramp. It's less than 20 Mel from the top of the hill. The face of Alice, the girl who raised her face and lowered her head slightly, was already close in front of her. There is no expression on the snow-white and translucent skin. She just closed her eyes and let her heart bask in the warmth of the sun and the scent of flowers on the little tree.

- Is she sleeping?

Continue to move closer, and gently prick a needle into the fingers that are closed on her closed knees...... Is it all over? It was at the moment when Eugeo happened to think like this. Alice's right hand was raised silently, and Eugeo felt his heart thump and stopped.

As her lustrous lips moved, a familiar voice rang out in her ears.

"Wait a minute. It's rare to have such good weather, so let this child bathe and enjoy it more. The eyelids, with their golden eyelashes, slowly lifted up. Unique blue pupils that look straight into Ugeo's eyes. The lightness and tenderness of his eyes, and the smile on his lips—Yugeo had a premonition of such an illusion.

However, the blue pupils that passed through them were no longer the gentle color of the sky in the past, but the color of ice that could not be melted by any kind of sunlight. Coldly judging himself as the enemy's sight, Yugeo's feet can't move.

Sure enough, he can only fight-even if he loses his memory, he can't tell if it's Alice from Lulid Village? The young girl of Green Belk himself drew his sword. In order to restore her to her original state, no matter how much hardship she has to go through, she must continue to fight.

When he was sheathed two days ago, he had already experienced the integration of the knight Alice Brown. Synthesis· Thirty's strength. Even though it only hit the Void, Yugeo's eyes couldn't keep up with that blow. He hadn't even thought about how difficult it would be to block the movements of a knight with that kind of means without getting hurt.

The other party is by no means an opponent who can show mercy. But—even so, can I really do the act of cutting off that blonde bunch? Instead of drawing his sword, Yugeo took another step forward. Behind him, who was standing there due to the sudden entanglement, Lin Yiyan said in a slightly hoarse voice, "You don't have to fight, Yugeo." Just think about stabbing Cardinal's dagger into Alice. Alice's attack, it's up to me to block it. ”

"But...... But ......"

"This is the only way, and the longer the fighting continues, the worse the situation becomes. Instead of dodging her first blow directly, you block it and catch her like that, and you immediately use that short sword...... Do you understand? ”

"............" Yugeo bit his lip. Whether it's fighting Desorubat or Fanateau, it's Yi Yan who bleeds in the end. In the final analysis, it was clearly because of Eugeo's personal feelings that they would unscrupulously challenge the Congregational Church.

“…… I'm sorry. Hearing Yougeo muttering embarrassedly, Lin Yiyan replied with a low laugh, "It's okay, I'll let you pay back twice as much later." But put that aside for ...... first

“……？ What's wrong? ”

"No...... From this, it seems that she does not appear to be equipped with weapons. And...... what does "that child" mean? Hearing Lin Yiyan's words, Ugeo once again stared at Alice sitting on the hill. Her eyes that had just been opened closed again. Descending to look at her waist, indeed, there was no golden scabbard there that we had seen when we met at the Academy.

"Perhaps, how about putting down the sword in the rest...... If that's the case, it will help us. Saying something that seemed completely unbelievable, Lin Yiyan put his left hand on the hilt of the black sword.

"I'm a little sorry for her, but I can't accompany her until sunset. If she was on it now, with or without a sword, she probably wouldn't have had time to activate the Total Domination Technique. Honestly, it would be best if it could end without that. ”

"yes...... My Total Domination Technique doesn't consume much Sword Destiny, and I can still use it twice or so today......"

"That's a real help...... I can only use it again here. After Alice, I'm afraid there are guys like the knights. So...... Let's go. Lin Yiyan nodded and took a step forward.

After making up his mind, Eugeo followed. Ignoring the curving brick path on the hill, the two walked straight to the top. The grass on the soles of the boots made a gurgling sound. Alice stood up silently halfway through the two. On the half-open face, the emotionless ice blue eyes looked at the two.

Suddenly, as if I was restrained by some kind of technique in my sight, my steps became heavy. Sure enough, despite the fact that Alice didn't have a sword with her, Yugeo felt his feet refuse to approach her. Is it the body that remembers the experience of being hit in the cheek - but if this is the case, Yi Yan's legs walking in front of him have not lost their strength?

“…… Finally, have you come to this place? Alice's clear voice shook the air again.

"Even if you escape from the shackles of your prison, Elderier on standby in the Rose Garden alone will be enough, I judge it this way. But you actually defeated him, and even defeated His Highness Disorrubart, who was carrying the artifact, and even His Highness Fanatio, and arrived at this cloud garden. ”

Bowed eyebrows furrowed. The voice that flowed from the cherry red lips carried a hint of melancholy, "What is it that gives you such strength?" What the hell is it to throw a fist at this smooth human world? Why don't you understand that injuring an integration knight can do great damage to the forces of darkness? ”

- It's all just for you. Yougeo shouted in his heart. However, he knew that even if he said this, it would not make any sense to the integration knight Alice in front of him. Yugeo gritted his teeth and struggled on.

"Sure enough—can I only draw my sword? All right...... If that's what you want. With a sigh, Alice put her right hand on the trunk of a nearby tree.

But, isn't there no sword -

When Yugeo thought this, Lin Yiyan also said the short words of "Could it be". In the next moment, with a golden flash, the small tree growing on the top of the hill disappeared.

“————！？” Then, a sweet and refreshing aroma hits, and then it disappears. At some point, Alice held a somewhat familiar straight and slender sword in her right hand. Not only the scabbard, but also the gauntlet and the hilt are all crafted from sparkling gold. On the gauntlet of the sword, there is also a carved cross pattern.

For a moment, Ugeo couldn't understand what was happening. The tree disappeared, and the sword appeared—that is, did the tree become a sword? However, Alice did not say anything. Whether it's an illusion or a super-high-level divine technique, it's impossible to change the material composition without any activation. If, if it was just a change of attitude according to the owner's heart, then, that's-

Lin Yiyan, who had thought of that conclusion a little earlier, groaned in a low voice, "Oh no, no...... That sword, do you say...... Have you entered a state of total domination......"

Alice stared at the two of them as she stood still, raising her sword horizontally with both hands.

Boom! The blade of the sword shone with a high pitch that shone a yellowier than the scabbard, reflecting a dazzling glow in the light of Sauls.

Immediately after, Lin Yiyan suddenly rushed forward. Presumably he figured that he would have to enter the melee before Alice could use the Domination Technique, regardless of the power of the sword. The grass at his feet was torn violently, and he only ran ten steps to reach about eighty percent of the height of the hill.

Holding the chain on his chest, Yugeo desperately chased after him. Yi Yan didn't want to draw the breath of the knife, but as he said, he planned to use his body to directly block Alice's first blow. I'm afraid, being blocked is also a matter of moments. Then, Yugeo, who has the task of taking advantage of this gap to stab the short sword, must not miss this opportunity.

Even when she saw the fierce advance of the black-clothed swordsman, Alice's expression did not change in the slightest, but she gently shook the sword with her right hand without concealment.