"Say something. Master. Master. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something.Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something. Say something-"

My voice became dry, and I finally stopped. The broken recorder had stopped functioning.

My mind didn't work too well either. As I tried to hold contact with Master like I did before. Skinship, where I felt truly at ease. But even that was taken away from me.

Master's body... it's turning so cold... Aahhh... aahhhh...

I... I've failed again... Even after getting this much power... I still failed to protect someone I held dear to me...

Flashbacks of people I'd helped along my journey as an adventurer went through me, as if condemning me... mocking me... Even though their faces were full of smiles.

I always had doubts in my mind, if I could've done more back then. They must have hated me for not doing more. They must have, but they just smiled to keep up with appearances... they must have hated me, for leaving thousands to die. That I couldn't do more. Despite being a Sword Saint.

But... I'm no Sword Saint.

"Thank you for saving our village!" "The plague is gone!" "The Sword of Maiea!" "A saint!" "Thank you!"

"Why didn't you save my son!" "Why didn't you arrive sooner?! Thousands died because of you!" "While you were out playing your crusade...!!!"

I... I'm no... I didn't meant to...

"Excusesss!!! Excuses of a whore!" "You don't deserve to live!" "That's right! That's right! Our village turned to ashes because of you!" "You!" "Monster!" "Witch!" "She instigated the plague!" "Witch!" "Witch! Witch! Witch! Witch!"

No... no...

I rested my body against Master, who was lying cold on the ground. My hands were trembling, recalling someone which I could've saved.

The boy's hand left mine back on the stairs. A book he was still holding on his other hand, which he will never be able to see again.

Pinky promise?

Y-yeah-

-Even though you left me to die.

-?!!!

The figure of the boy slowly melted as he edged closer towards me, with hollow eyes and dissolving skin.

D-don't come near me... Don't... please don't...

Why did you leave me with Mister Shifa... you wanted me to die right?

No... NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NO. NOOOOOOOO!!!

...

"yOU sEEm TrOubLeD, LiTTLe OnE."

"..."

My face buried within the chest of Master, never responded to the voice.

Hmm...? Ignoring me now, will you?

It became clearer, as if its frequency became more adapted to speaking.

"...Go away."

Mm, mm... You're distressed, aren't you? ...That boy-a, is he so important? He just seems like a weakling in my eyes-

"...You don't know anything about Master, so shut up. You don't know the first thing about us, demon." Even after losing my mental strength, I still did not want to hear anyone berating my Master. My face held a very fierce glare, not directed towards anyone in particular.

Because it didn't have a human form. Or... a demon form. It just existed within my head.

The figure of a red-haired woman like me, draped in a wine red dress. Always looking over me with an amused smile.

"Oooh~ Fierce, fierce~ Love can work in such mysterious ways indeed~ I've never seen you like this before, maybe it's a sign that you'll give in soon...? Hmhm~?"

"..."

I couldn't refute that. My mental state wasn't very strong right now. It wouldn't surprise me that she would have enough to take over me any moment soon.

Will Merge... this ability worked in the strangest of ways. I couldn't appraise it, because I didn't have it. Awakening my compulsive personality, and letting me hear this voice in my head during the week I was separated from Master...

...Is this a sign, that Rien finally wants me to come with her? ...Aahhh... maybe. ...

... ...

You know. I'm jealous. Your feelings of revenge, are clearly stronger than that weak and flimsy thing you call love. But just enough to shake your emotions like that. How long... have I felt like that I wonder. Your passionate gazes... your obsessive desires born from the one you call Rien... they're all so endearing and precious... All of that, erased within a single moment. Humans... demons alike. They're all so fragile...

Within those words in my head, I could see... the former glory of that woman. And flashing images of her past... but they were unrelated to me. She also didn't expect sympathy from me either, already regressed into something more inorganic as time passed while her form was encased within a sword.

I didn't refute anything she had said. Because they were all true. I knew first-hand. What it was like to be on each spectrum of human relationships. Nothing lasts forever, and not everything is of beauty. I knew that.

The harsh reality with my step-father and... my mother... while I had Rien on the other end, who created a bubble to protect me...

What then... Now, I had nothing left... It was all meaningless.

...I guess. This is your final answer. It had been a good run, for a human.

...Goodbye, Soma.

I shut my eyes closed slowly during my final moments, as the woman in my mind stretched out her hands towards me in a powerful embrace.

"...I'll... see you on the other side, ...Rien."

...

...

A long moment passed.

...But nothing happened.

I suddenly felt the weight below me disappear. Where Master was.

"Eh?"

Blood Pact recalled. Target: White Shigaraki has returned to Parvula.

...

The announcement of the System resounded in my mind, as it began to process the information.

T-then... that... that means...

My eyes began to regain their shine, as strength slowly returned to my body.

...This... this isn't allowed?!

The voice became slightly frantic, as I stood up slowly. Even though Master's body had disappeared, I knew... how to find him.

I closed my eyes again and concentrated deeply...tracing the lingering effects of Mind Projection. ...A secret passage... leading... to an open space... ...An image of a cave.

...There he is.

The fact that Master... was alive and well... made me leak a tear from my eye. But I knew. I couldn't be weak now. I had to follow up on my actions. I needed to make this right. I needed to protect Master. My only reason to live now.

"...Master is alive. He's alive. He's alive. He's aliveee!!!"

K-kuhahahahahaha!!! ...Interesting. This is too interesting. These fluctuations... I knew I was right when I had chosen you back then. You're truly... a worthy vessel of the Demon King Bloodwell...!!!

-Show me more, show me everything will you? 'Sword Saint'?!!

I picked up the Sword of Bloodwell, radiating a red glow ominously in my right hand. Its weight was originally intended to be wielded with two hands, but it had always sat nicely in one for me. The Sword which had accompanied my journey as an adventurer for so long.

A Demonic Blade, weaponized with the persona of a former Demon King. I clutched it strongly, and strode forward towards the elves' village.

"...Prepare for a massacre. ...I'll bury... each and every one of you alive. ...Wait for me, Master. I'll be by your side in a moment."