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「? So…what does that mean?」
「「…………」」

Both Eris and Ripple were a little taken aback by how dense Raphael was when it came to this. He was a faithful young bachelor, decent and kind and merciful to others, and even willing to make self-sacrifices for others, but…

「W-, well, let us not linger on this any longer. It won’t help us either way! I’m sure we won’t see more of that man by now, and we have a more pressing matter at hand.」
「Right. Although, I want to talk with this beastfolk girl Arles more…」
「A Hyrule Menace cannot perish. We may meet her again one day… with a new Holy Knight by her side.」
「Yeah, I’m sure she’s suffering right now…」
「Yeah… However, she has to pull herself out of it on her own…」

As if reliving their memories, Eris and Ripple nodded to each other, faces down.

「……By the way, Lady Eris. Where are we right now?」
「We’re right above Arlman city. If the Prisma stayed true to its path, it would pass through here… it was originally enshrined here, wasn’t it? They say it’s highly likely to visit here again.」
「I don’t know how the mind of a Prisma works, but maybe it likes it here?」
「……So, the decisive battle will take place here?」
「Yes. That is also the plan of the Prince and the Special Envoy. If this city is breached, the Prisma might reach the Royal Capital! That’s why. We are assembling not only Knights belonging to the Holy Knight Order but also private armies of various lords all over the land.」
「I think the kids from the Knight Academy are here too. I saw Miliera at Wayne’s, greeting him…」
「Did someone call me?」

The door to the room opened, and Principal Miliera peeked in through the gaps.

「Oh? Miliera?」
「That is rude.」
「Ah, sorry~ I just heard my name when I was passing by, you see.」

While it was late, she made sure to knock on the door, for the show of it.

「Hahaha… Thanks for the hard work, Senior Miliera.」

During Raphael’s enrollment, Miliera, a graduate of the academy and a candidate for Holy Knight, had trained him several times. He had known her since then.

「Mister Raphel! I heard you’ve been bedridden due to your battle wounds. I’m glad to see you’re awake… Thank goodness!」
「It is all thanks to Lady Eris and Lady Ripple for saving me…」
「Is it now… Miss Eris, Miss Ripple, how are your wounds?」
「’s fine, they’re healing already!」
「Same with mine.」
「Senior, I’m sorry… To think that even the students have to be mobilized as well… all because of my inadequacies!」
「Don’t be, it’s not your fault. I heard that your opponent weaponized a Hyrule Menace to face you… it is a miracle you’re still safe and sound. The past is the past, what we face now is the future.」
「Yes! Umm, are Rani and Glis here too?」
「No, their group is under a special directive and is still in Alucard…」

Eris and Ripple had informed Inglis of Prisma’s movement through the authority of Prince Wayne and Special Envoy Theodore while Raphael was still sleeping, but they had made a huge miscalculation.

Inglis should have been here by now had she stayed still in the Royal Capital.

The fastest messenger had been sent towards Alucard, but would Prisma reach here faster, or would Inglis… they hadn’t the slightest idea. If the Prisma showed up in Arlman first, it would be necessary to intercept the giant monster and draw out the battle as long as possible.

「I see… We should finish this up before they arrive here…」

There was the imminent risk of them being caught up in a battle against the Prisma. Even if Raphael succeeded in defeating the Prisma, there was also the risk of them witnessing his passing as well.

Raphael would like to keep them away from either risk as far away as possible.
The girls might not be able to accept it, but…

「Y-, you mustn’t, Mister Raphael. Don’t be hasty! Even if we don’t defeat the Prisma, it is enough so long as we can drive it away. We will fight together and attempt to…!」
「Yes, I’m sorry, but your help is much appreciated.」
「……However, if worse comes to worst, if we’ve exhausted every single option we have, we’ll have to turn to you… I am really sorry, Mister Raphael… I also possess a Special Grade Rune, and yet you’re the only one to bear this responsibility! I’m really, really sorry!」

Miliera bowed deeply to Raphael. For someone who was usually so carefree and easygoing, her voice quaked and she seemed to be on the verge of tears.

「No, Senior! Everybody has their own duties to fulfill……and I am ready to oblige mine. Senior, your duty is important for the future. You are nurturing the strength that will protect this country! His Highness Wayne was correct in his judgment to elect you to be the beacon for the next generation of Knights with the newly gained Highland technology.」
「……Even so, all this time, I see my position as an escape to save myself… no, sorry, I suppose I shouldn’t be rambling……not when you’re the one who has it the hardest!」
「I am fine, don’t mind me. I am only doing what I need to do when I need to! That doesn’t change, no matter what.」

Raphael smiled as he nodded to Miliera.

「You are a resolute man, Mister Raphael… I feel like a child when I’m looking at you, I feel ashamed of myself.」

Holy Knights were the last hope of the country and the people. Glorious, venerable heroes… It was, however, never as venerable as it appeared, due in part to the downside of wielding Hyrule Menaces, a fact that was ostensibly kept hidden.

Not only did they have to fight against Magic Stone Beasts, but they also had to fight against the shadow of death that was always close at hand, putting their ambitions and belief on the line. Reality was always crueler than what appeared.

Raphael was at the vortex of it all, and yet he was always the same heroic figure that everyone looked up to. He was radiating in Miliera’s eyes. At the same time, she felt a deep respect for him.

「I-, is that so? I, uh, I’m sorry…」
「No, it’s nothing to apologize for.」
「It’s okay, Miliera. You’re not alone, we all feel it sometimes…」
「…Yups, he’s just so astonishing sometimes. His parents educated him well, I’d say.」

Ripple followed Eris’s statement.

「Hahaha! They’re the same parents who educated Rani, though…」
「Miss Rafinha is an exceedingly good person, you know? She can be quite moody, however.」
「Isn’t she? She’s got a strong sense of justice, and kind, and above all…」
「She’s a very resolute girl. She is much like you.」
「Well, with Miss Inglis never leaving her side, it is no wonder Miss Rafinha might seem a bit irrational at times, right? Aah, well, the amount of food she eats is irrational too, however……」
「If anything, I’d say it would be real bad if Inglis didn’t have Rafinha to look after, though.」
「……I agree. That girl escapes any logic… her power, her mindset, her everything.」
「Doesn’t she? At first glance, she looks like a very wise, very ladylike young girl, but inside she’s a battle demon.」
「Indeed. If anything, I want to meet her parents…」

And yet, that illogical prowess and indomitable battle spirit that feared nothing of hers were needed the most right now. A Prisma could only be defeated by a Holy Knight wielding a weaponized Hyrule Menace, and after the battle, the Holy Knight would never return to the living world.

That common sense, that logic, that tragedy that was doomed to be repeated over and over again, they want her to destroy all of it to smithereens! And only then, Raphael’s fate might change. He was too good of a person to die in a place like this.

「Hahaha, Glis’ parents aren’t that different than my parents, though?」

Raphael could only chuckle.