――The raging wind and earth, the clash of supreme forces, truly a new legend being woven.

The battle between the transcendent Sword Demon and the Divine Dragon had just begun, and in the blink of an eye, Heinkel was thrown off the dragon's back, ejected from the legend.

"――――"

During the descent from the clouds, the Divine Dragon had held him steady with the wind, but as soon as the struggle with the Sword Demon commenced, that consideration—no, that composure—was lost from the dragon, forcing Heinkel to rely on his own efforts. And when those efforts bore no fruit, Heinkel was quickly cast off the stage.

Unable to even cling on, he rolled on the ground, feeling miserable and pathetic. Yet, even such a luxurious self-pity was not permitted for Heinkel at this moment.

"――――"

The battle that began at Barielle Manor had already moved far away, expanding the stage to the Noble District. The extraordinary conflict between man and dragon continued, accompanied by an unreal, dreamlike spectacle. From this, Heinkel could not avert his eyes.

"――――"

His emotions wished to look away. Not just avert his eyes, but turn his back and flee. If that wasn't possible, he wanted to cover his head, crouch down, and block his ears to reject everything. But he couldn't. He couldn't do it. How could Heinkel Astrea look away when Wilhelm van Astrea was wielding his sword?

"――――"

The aged Sword Demon animated his entire body, challenging the massive form of the Divine Dragon, many times his size, avoiding numerous deadly encounters, and delivering countless sword strikes that chipped away at the dragon's scales.

The stepping, leaping, sword flashes, parrying, posture maintenance, weight shifting, gaze manipulation, technique application, obstacle utilization—all were employed to augment his swordsmanship to its ultimate form. Without a doubt, Wilhelm, exchanging blows with the dragon, was the strongest swordsman Heinkel had ever known.

Not for a moment could he look away from the Sword Demon's exquisite skill. He held his breath, forgot to blink, and even felt his heartbeat was a distraction, so captivated was he by the sword flashes.

It was not a refined and sophisticated sword dance. The way the Sword Demon sought to cut into his opponent's life from any angle was more raw, more like the instinctual passion of a beast. That passion became a karma, which was sublimated into technique, reaching the legend of contending with the Divine Dragon.

"――――"

――In Wilhelm's figure, clashing with the Divine Dragon, Heinkel glimpsed countless battlefields.

In the Watergate City, exchanging sword strikes with Theresia van Astrea, appearing as she did in her youth. On the Lifaus Plains, wielding his sword against the formidable enemy, the White Whale, the nemesis of his wife. In the Commercial City, clashing with the three-headed Evil Dragon that dominated the sky, severing its long neck. Likewise in the Commercial City, colliding with Kurgan, the Empire's strongest Eight Arms, engraving his name in history. At Lugunica Royal Castle, taking the sword from Theresia van Astrea, who was the Sword Saint. In the Demi-Human War, cutting down many foes, becoming blood-soaked and earning the name Sword Demon.

In the countless other battlefields, the figure of the supreme sword master who led to victory with his sword, Heinkel saw in the current Wilhelm. And at the same time, he understood. ――At this rate, the Divine Dragon will be defeated.

"No, it can't be."

Heinkel, who had been on his knees, stood up, squeezing out the words. As he confirmed the presence of the sword at his waist with his hand, Heinkel was driven by that conviction. The Divine Dragon will lose. Because the opponent is the Sword Demon, who has decided to win.

"――――"

Sadly, Heinkel cannot perceive the limits of the abilities of the 'Sword Demon' and the 'Divine Dragon.' Just as those on the ground cannot verify the scenery above the clouds, even if a view beyond imagination unfolds there, it remains unseen. Therefore, one can only rely on a meager imagination to conjure it. — And in the limited world of Heinkel Astrea's imagination, the 'Divine Dragon' is defeated by the sword of the 'Sword Demon.'

As a premise, this battle overwhelmingly favors the 'Divine Dragon.' Even from Heinkel's perspective, the sword of the 'Sword Demon' cannot pierce the dragon scales of the 'Divine Dragon,' and no matter how many attacks are launched, a decisive blow cannot be delivered. In contrast, each attack from the 'Divine Dragon' is fatal, and even a slight graze a few millimeters deep would result in the 'Sword Demon' losing his life and becoming a corpse. Heinkel understands this premise. — Yet, the imagination of the 'Sword Demon' winning remains unshaken.

It's not about logic. One cannot surpass the 'Sword Saint' with logic or reason. In other words, the strength of the 'Sword Demon,' who once defeated the 'Sword Saint,' lies beyond logic and reason. Because the 'Sword Demon' possesses the strength to reach beyond that point with his sword—

"—No."

Heinkel's steps cannot accept this unchangeable worst-case scenario. If the 'Sword Demon' were to defeat the 'Divine Dragon' here, he would likely challenge the 'Sword Saint' next. And just as he defeated the previous 'Sword Saint,' he would also defeat the current 'Sword Saint'—Reinhard.

That cannot happen. That alone cannot happen. The realization of that battle involves many obstacles, such as the existence of the 'Witch of Envy,' which Aldebaran is using by some means or another, but even without considering such factors, it cannot happen. It cannot happen. It cannot happen, and because it cannot happen, it absolutely cannot happen. There's no need to explain why it cannot happen; it simply cannot happen. It cannot happen, and that's that. It cannot happen. It cannot happen because it cannot happen. The 'Sword Demon,' with that clear sword, cannot save Louanna Astrea. Because he cannot save her, therefore—

"—Heinkel."

In front of him, there is the back of the 'Sword Demon' standing still. The muffled voice from beyond his back, hindered by blood bubbles, almost drowning, unmistakably called his name, and Heinkel understood it without error. Knowing this, he suppressed the trembling in his arms with all his self-control and gripped the hilt of his sword.

"…With your way, Louanna can't be reclaimed."

Debris from a collapsing building hit his forehead, and blood flowed. He was blown away multiple times by shockwaves like explosions and was pinned under falling pillars. Even as half his body was burned by the aftermath of the dragon's breath sliced by sword flashes, dragging the pain of scorched blood, bone, and flesh, he continued to walk. Covered in dust and blood to the utmost, he walked, walked, and walked—Heinkel stood behind Wilhelm. — Standing, he skewered his own father from behind with the drawn 'Astrea.'

"——"

Through the sword that pierced him, he felt Wilhelm trying to turn around. To prevent this, he tightened his grip, making him conscious of the deep wound to stop him from turning. He cannot see Wilhelm's face now. If he sees himself reflected in those eyes, Heinkel, both now and in the past, would be unable to say anything. So he doesn't let him turn. Absolutely not.

Do not turn back, do not let him say it.

If you let the Sword Demon say he will accomplish it, he will force it open with his sword. The future that is forced open might clear away all the dark clouds, revealing a long-hidden clear sky. — But in that future, Louanna's presence is absent.

The Sword Demon's sword cannot awaken Louanna. And without her, Heinkel—Heinkel and the others—cannot be saved.

"It's not you... it's not Father. It's me. — It's something I have to do."

He cursed the fact that what he squeezed out was a weak, sob-like voice. Clench your teeth, you failure. Put strength into your voice, you coward. Do you have time to look down, you spineless fool? Even after staining this hand, this sword, with your father's blood, you can't stop your teeth from chattering, feel the heat behind your eyes, and can't kill the urge to spill everything from your insides, you good-for-nothing. You claim to have made up your mind, so when will you finally deceive your wavering self, you bed-wetter?

"—You big fool."

Heinkel spurred himself on with endless self-reproach. In Heinkel's ears, a reprimand that wasn't his own, yet one he couldn't disagree with, reached him. A voice not drowned in blood, and as his cheeks stiffened at that, Heinkel's eyes widened. — He made eye contact with Wilhelm, whom he had tried to prevent from turning back.

"—Ah."

Looking at his hand, the sword remained in the same position. Yet, Wilhelm had turned around because he twisted his body and forcibly pulled out the sword that pierced his torso. Naturally, if you pull out a sword from a wound, blood will flow. If done forcibly, the wound will widen. But the Sword Demon pulled out the blade. If he didn't, he couldn't turn around.

"...Heinkel."

Wilhelm called out to the speechless Heinkel again after that reckless act. Swallowing the blood rising in his throat, Wilhelm tried to keep his voice clear. However, having sustained injuries all over his body from the battle with Yae and the fight with the Divine Dragon, and now having received a deep wound from Heinkel, his body was already suffering from critical blood loss. As expected, losing the support of the sword that pierced his body, Wilhelm collapsed from his knees.

"F-Father..."

Instinctively, Heinkel reached out to support the collapsing body. But instead, Wilhelm grabbed Heinkel's outstretched hand and unexpectedly pulled him closer. Despite the massive blood loss and being on the brink of death, Wilhelm's grip was strong enough to make Heinkel's cheeks twitch, and with eyes that never lost their strength,

"Wake up already..."

"——"

That plea ignited a dark heat in Heinkel's heart, which was about to shrink. Are you going to lecture me not to dream? That awakening Louanna is a pipe dream, or even if she does awaken, do you think she would be happy? — Even without being told, he knows Louanna would never be happy.

Nothing Heinkel has done until today will be affirmed by Louanna. He will be despised, abandoned, and his love will turn to hatred, inevitably marking his name as the most loathsome man in the world to Louanna. But that's fine. Whether it's anger, hatred, or contempt, it doesn't matter. If Louanna awakens from her sleep, reflects the world in her blue eyes, and sings of life with her lips, that's enough.

He won't indulge in convenient dreams. Heinkel will live and die in this nightmare-like, yet not a nightmare, reality. For that purpose—,

"—No."

With a dark resolve and a returning headache, however, Wilhelm called for a pause. Heinkel held his breath and stared at Wilhelm, wondering what was happening. Wilhelm, refusing to avert his eyes from his still inadequate son, moved his bloodied lips.

Heinkel recognized that expression. It was a painful memory from the past. —The anguished face when Theresia, his mother, did not return from the battle with the White Whale.

"Wake up, Heinkel... you..."

The face Wilhelm showed, as far as Heinkel knew, was when the 'Sword Demon' Wilhelm appeared at his weakest—

"No matter whose hatred you incur, Reinhard will never abandon the seat of the 'Sword Saint'..."

—Just like that time, he uttered words that wounded Heinkel's heart the most.