However, the flames that burned everything or the icicles that froze everything did not appear. Lin Yiyan's body rotated horizontally in the air, but he couldn't see the shadow of Chuderkin or anyone else. Lin Yiyan, who fell to the marble floor, kept kneeling on one knee and listened, but all he heard was the footsteps of Alice chasing after him.

At the same time as Lin Yiyan stood up, Alice also ran up the stairs. The knight frowned as Lin Yiyan as he looked around and said, "Although it seems that I heard someone singing, there is no one here...... Now that Chuderkin has given up the surprise attack...... Did he escape to the 100th floor......"

Lin Yiyan looked at the ceiling like Alice and whispered, "But, it's the High Priest's room above, right?" Even if he is the patriarch, he can't just go in, right? ”

"I don't think so, either...... Besides, where is the staircase that leads to the upper floor? Hearing what she said, Lin Yiyan looked around again at the circular room on the 99th floor.

It's very wide, about 30 meters in diameter. The floors, ceilings, and curved walls are all made of white marble, but there are no ornaments. Although there seemed to be some large lights on the walls, only four were on now, so the room was rather dim. If all the lights in this snow-white room were turned on, the eyes would probably be glazed, so this is a last resort.

The staircase that ran up the staircase connected to Chudelkin's room had an opening on the floor next to the wall. There is a marble trapdoor next to it, and if you close the door, it will completely become one with the ground.

In this way, somewhere in the ceiling, there is probably also a flap door that leads to the staircase above. Thinking of this, I looked for a knob or a handle, but I couldn't find anything like it. Just as Lin Yiyan re-grasped the sword with his right hand, thinking about whether to launch a sword skill against the ceiling-

“…… This room ......" Alice suddenly made a sound. Lin Yiyan turned around and saw the knight's left eye, which was wide blue.

"What's wrong?"

“…… I know this room. Here it is...... Six years ago, I woke up as a trainee integration knight......"

"Huh...... You, are you sure!? ”

"Hmm...... At that time, the lights on the walls were all on...... The room was bright and glaring...... The High Priest stood in the middle of the room and woke me up as I lay there. "Wake up, son of God...... That's what she said......"

Alice probably noticed a hint of respect in her words at some point. She frowned slightly, and continued in a more resolute tone, "...... The High Priest gave me a forged past and a knight's mission to me after I had lost all my memories up to that time, and then handed me over to my uncle...... Knight Captain Bel Coolly. At that time, a part of the ground sank into the ground like a lifting plate on the middle floor, bringing me and my uncle to the 95th floor. I haven't been here since then. ”

"Sink into the ground......?" Lin Yiyan, who tilted his head, clicked on the marble ground with the sole of his shoe. However, all that came was the heavy and hard touch of the stone. Finding a hidden elevator in this spacious room would have been a lot of work, and there was no need to move to the lower floors now.

"Alice, do you remember how the Administrator got back to his room?" Hearing Lin Yiyan's question, the knight put the fingertips of his left hand to his mouth and fell into thought.

"Remember...... The moment my uncle and I were riding on the lifting plate sank to the ground...... The High Priest looked up at the ceiling...... Then, a small lifting plate appeared on it as well......"

"That's it!" Lin Yiyan shouted, raising his head again and staring at the pure white ceiling. What is hidden above this is not the door that is pulled down, but the elevator. However, even if Lin Yiyan glanced again, he couldn't find anything like a switch. Unlike the elevator from the 50th to the 80th floor, there is no elevator operation, so the lifting operation should be done automatically by some kind of mechanism. And this organ is ......

"Ah...... Could it be that the patriarch's chant just now was ......" Alice also reacted to Lin Yiyan's self-talk, "Is that not a surprise attack launched with an attack technique, but an attempt to make the lifting plate work......?" Since then...... Yi Yan, do you remember what Chuderkin sang after 'Generate'? ”

The answer here must not be "I can't remember", so Lin Yiyan desperately searched his mind for memories from a few minutes ago. The patriarch's high-pitched voice, behind the word Generate, should be chanting—

“lu…… Lu, what's coming......" Alice's cold gaze fell on Lin Yiyan, who desperately wanted to remember the syllables behind.

"The only element to start with is the light element." That's right, Lin Yiyan nodded. Alice didn't look at me again, but first withdrew the sword she was holding in her right hand into its scabbard, then pointed her ten fingers at the ceiling.

“System Call! Generate Luminous Element!” The number of light elements generated has reached the theoretical upper limit - that is, ten. Alice did not process the elements further, but directly radiated the white points of light floating on her fingertips. Then, there was the sound of light elements colliding with the ceiling.

In one place, a stronger light was emitted than the others - and then a circle of light about a meter in diameter appeared on the ceiling, not in the center, but quite close to the wall.

Lin Yiyan watched Alice move to the side while being on guard. The circle of light quickly faded, but it did not disappear, and finally a part of the marble ceiling protruded smoothly from the boundary line and then slowly descended. It seems that the light element is just a switch, and the movement of the slate relies on another energy, but the specific mechanism is not clear. This is almost on the same level as the miracles that Cardinal the Sage unfolded in the Great Library...... No, it's such a miracle. The mechanism of this elevator must have been only a part of the bottomless power possessed by the High Priest.

The elevator, as Alice called the lifting plate, fell to the ground with a faint vibration. Instead of marble, it was covered with a crimson velvet carpet that reflected a faint glow in the blue-white moonlight that descended from the round hole in the ceiling.

In this way, the road to the topmost floor of the central cathedral is opened. When Lin Yiyan and Alice take this lifting plate and reach the 100th floor, the final battle will begin.

The original plan was to stab the Administrator in the body with the Vault's dagger while she was asleep, and then give it to Cardinal. However, now that Chuderkin has fled to the 100th floor, I am afraid that the High Priest has woken up, and my dagger has been used to save Fanatio.

But I don't know if it's lucky, the knight Alice promises to change her personality back to the original Alice. As a result, the short sword that Yugeo was holding no longer needed to be used on Alice. Go up to the 100th floor in one go, rescue Yugeo, who is supposed to be still frozen, and then find an opportunity to stab the shortsword into the Administrator before she gets serious. In addition to the battle plan, I am afraid that there is no chance of victory.

Alice seems to have made up her mind like Lin Yiyan. Lin Yiyan exchanged glances with her, nodded and said, "...... Let's go. ”

"Let's go."

Then, I, the senior swordsman Yi Yan, and the integration knight Alice Synthesis· Thirty stepped towards the lifting wheel fifteen meters in front of them.

One step, two steps. When we take the third step -

The pale blue glow of what was supposed to be moonlight descending from the hole in the ceiling was suddenly obscured.

Several dazzling rays of light shot into the eyes of Lin Yiyan, who stopped and looked up at the entrance of the cave. It was the moonlight reflected by the well-designed metal armor. The man, dressed in heavy armor, jumped down from the hole in the ceiling six meters above his head, his long cloak fluttering in the air. Judging by the height, it could not be Chuderkin. So did the High Priest himself go down to the 99th floor? But that figure should be a man. Due to the backlight, Lin Yiyan couldn't see his face clearly.

"Is there still an integration knight......?" Hearing Lin Yiyan's whisper, Alice replied in a low voice, "That armor should be ...... No, it's not ......"

Immediately after, the new knight stood on the lifting plate with a brisk metallic sound. He bent his knees as a cushion, and then slowly stood up.

The armor was a silver oozing blue. The surface of the armor, which has a little translucency, reflects a dazzling brilliance in the moonlight. At first glance, the knight in the dark blue cloak did not have a sword at his waist. Although the lowered face is blocked by large throat armor, the hair is slightly wavy...... But it's a soft flaxen color.

In an instant, Lin Yiyan's whole body was pierced by a thunderous tremble. The color of the hair. The color that has been by his side for the two years he has spent under orld.

How can it be. But. Why.

In front of Lin Yiyan, who was in a huge chaos and could only stand still, the knight finally raised his face. From the depths of the half-closed eyelids, the green pupils stared straight at Lin Yiyan. There is no need to doubt anymore. Dressed in the armor of an integrated knight, the young man ......

“…… With a gasp that could barely be called a voice, Yu......ge called out his name.

It's him, and you can't be mistaken. Since meeting in the forest south of Lurid, they have been acting together as partners - and unique best friends. After entering this world, he has been able to go all the way to the present, and it is also because of him by his side. Therefore, his face, Lin Yiyan absolutely could not be mistaken.

However, the expression that appeared in the eyes and the corners of the mouth of the Eugeo who stood there wordlessly had never been seen before. No, there was no expression on his face anymore. It was even colder than the Alice we had seen for the first time in the lecture hall of the Sword Academy, with an inorganic texture like ice.

"Eugeo." Lin Yiyan called out to him again, and this time he finally made a sound. However, his cold gaze did not waver in the slightest. That being said, it is by no means ignoring my existence. Right now, he's looking at himself. I can't tell...... It's about treating yourself as an enemy that must be killed.

“…… Could it be ...... It's too fast, too. Alice, who was standing next to her, suddenly made a sound, and Lin Yiyan, who was deeply entangled, asked her, "It's too fast...... Refers to, what ......"

"The completion of the ceremony." The Golden Knight turned his head to look at Lin Yiyan, hesitated for a moment, and then said the decisive words, "Your partner...... Eugeo, which has been synthesized. ”

The ritual of synthesis. Direct manipulation of Fluct Light is something that only the High Priest Administrator can do. Take away the memories and insert the heart of loyalty...... and transformed into an integrated knight.

“…… Lie. This kind of thing...... Moreover, didn't you spend three days and three nights at that time......" Alice replied calmly to Lin Yiyan, who shook her head desperately like a child, and replied calmly, "The patriarch also said that it was because I refused to chant the necessary technique. In other words, if that phrase is sung, there is no need for a three-day ritual...... But even then, it's too fast. It's only been a few hours since Yugeo fought his uncle......"

"That's right...... Eugeo, it can't be so simple...... This must be some kind of forged technique......" Lin Yiyan was no longer aware of what he said, and walked forward in a trance. However, the drooping right arm was suddenly grasped tightly by Alice's left hand. At the same time, a voice came from my ears, "Cheer up!" If you shake here, everything that could have been saved won't be saved! ”

"Yes...... What can be saved......? ”

"That's right! As you said, there is a way to restore the original memories of the integrated knights! Well, this can also restore the eugeo to its original state, right? For the sake of this, this situation must be resolved no matter what! ”

With a sharp rebuke, a willpower like a flame came from Alice's palm, which was in contact with Lin Yiyan's wrist, causing her body to be paralyzed by the cold to move. Lin Yiyan tightly re-grasped the black sword that had almost fallen to the ground at some point.

That's right – Alice was right. Eugeo's memories and personality are by no means permanently lost, but cannot be revealed due to the only place in Fluct Light.

As long as the fragments of memory are retrieved from the Administrator's hands and reunited by Cardinal, Yugeo will be transformed back into the gentle and kind swordsman he knew. To do this, the first step is to gather information through dialogue. By convincing the personality that now dominates Eugeo, get him out of the way...... It's not impossible to even let him be our help. Even Alice, who was extremely difficult to convince, finally reconciled through words.

“…… I'll leave it to me. After Lin Yiyan whispered this to Alice, who was still holding his right hand, the knight nodded although he showed a little hesitation. She let go of her left hand and took a step back, then said, "Understood." Don't be careless, though. The knight...... It's not the Eugeo you know it anymore. ”

"Hmm." Hearing Lin Yiyan's answer, Alice wordlessly distanced herself.

To be honest, no matter how strong Eugeo is that has become an integrated knight, as long as he uses Alice's Armed Total Domination Technique, which turns the sword of Kaneki into countless petals and forms a deadly storm, he can easily take away his combat power. I can be sure that Alice's technique is such overwhelming intensity. However, this is the last resort to choose when all possibilities have been shattered. I don't want Yugio's body to be harmed, and let the childhood sweethearts who have their memories blocked fight each other, which is even more cruel.

Lin Yiyan took a step forward and looked head-on into the eyes of Eugeo, who had the same icy luster as just now.

"Eugeo." His name was called out for the third time, but the voice was no longer as shaky and hoarse as before.

"Remember me? I'm Yi Yan...... It's your partner. I've been with you since I left Loulid, right? The young man in the blue and silver armor was silent for a few seconds before finally answering, "...... I'm sorry, I don't know you. ”

These were the first words of Knight Eugeo. Although the soft voice is exactly the same as in the memory, it has the same texture as the expression on the face. Sure enough, even if his pre-synthesis memories were sealed, he didn't have enough time to insert the same forged memories as the other knights, such as "summoned from the heavenly realm". There are quite a few blank spots in Eugio's understanding of himself today. If you aim for this flaw......

"Thank you, though." Yugeo's sudden words made Lin Yiyan dumbfounded. Hearing these sudden and unhostile words, Lin Yiyan couldn't help but have a little more expectation in his words, "...... What is it? ”

However, Eugeo's answer was-

"Thank you for bringing my sword."

"Eh......" Lin Yiyan, who was speechless, looked at his waist on the right. The artifact, the Sword of the Green Rose, which was contained in the white leather scabbard, hung there. Lin Yiyan raised his head and asked him again, "Do you want to use this sword...... What are you doing? ”

Yugeo blinked his green eyes and said what was rightful for him, "Fight you." That's what that person expects. ”

"......" Sure enough, he had come down to this room on the orders of that man, the Administrator, in order to repel himself and Alice. Even if the faint expectations are getting farther and farther away from me, Lin Yiyan still refuses to give up.

"Eugeo. You are to be commanded to do so...... Fighting without knowing who you are and not even knowing the meaning of fighting? Your enemy is not me. You're here to fight the High Priest and save an important childhood sweetheart......"

"The meaning of the battle or something, it doesn't matter to me." Yugeo interrupted Lin Yiyan's words. For the first time, something that looked like an expression appeared on his face, but it quickly disappeared.

"That man has given me what I want. For me, that's enough. ”