The Monologue Must End · Chapter 9
Duel
Hilde
...A chance to clash with our full strength?
You caused all this over something that trivial?
Rosaria
Trivial?
That joke goes too far, Hilde.
Do you truly not know? Or are you deliberately turning away?
Hilde
...
Rosaria
You know it too, do you not?
That day, there were no [possibilities] for you and I to fight.
I only came here to pay my respects in the first place.
And yet, an unusual [variable] emerged back then.
From that moment on, you and I became nothing more than actors.
There was someone else who truly wanted to be on this stage, after all.
Hilde
Are you saying this wasn't caused by your own whims?
Do you seriously expect me to believe that?
Rosaria
Whether you believe it or not is up to you.
I merely played along with the director who prepared the stage.
So fight with everything you have, Hilde.
This kind of opportunity does not come often, does it?
Hilde
Asmodeus... You and your riddles—
Asherah
You can't just run off on your own like that, Hilde!
Yoo Mina
Rosaria...! So this is where you were?
Omega
Ah! Mister, there you are!
You're all here!
Asherah
Captain! I'm so glad you're safe!
Rosaria
Huh? So Hilde did not come alone?
How admirable, having the courage to stand before me instead of fleeing.
Yoo Mina
Damn it... That monster...
Just locking eyes with her makes my whole body tremble...
Asherah
S-still!
We can't keep running away forever.
It's scary, but... if we have to face her, now's the time.
For Lavistar, too!
Hilde
Captain, while I'm dealing with Rosaria, I won't be able to watch the others.
Take command of the battle. I'm counting on you.
Alright, Hilde.
I'm counting on you too!
Rosaria
Fufu. How adorable, the way all of you carry on.
Very well. Come at me with everything you have.
And don't you dare disappoint me.
A cinematic plays here.
Rosaria
Ahahahaha!
You've grown rusty, Hilde! In the old days, you would've pressed far more savagely than this.
Hilde
Asmodeus, how long do you plan to keep behaving like a child?
System
Warning. Temporary restoration output limit reached.
Risk of self-collapse if maintained for 120 seconds or more.
Hilde
Ngh...!
Asherah
Hilde's amazing! They're neck and neck!
Yoo Mina
...No. Commander's being pushed back, little by little.
At this rate, she'll be overpowered.
Asherah
What? That would be bad!
Right now, Hilde's the only one among us who can face Rosaria head-on.
Then...
Omega, you supplied energy to Hilde's gear earlier, right?
Can you do it again now?
Omega
Yup! Omega can do that!
But Omega can't last long. One use, and Omega will shrivel up.
That's fine. That'll be enough.
Put your strength into it when I give the signal.
Omega
Got it, Mister!
Rosaria
Hmph. Is this all you amount to when you rely on such cumbersome gear?
In that case, I should create a truly desperate situation for you.
Asherah
She turned her blade toward us!
Yoo Mina
She's going after us first!
Rosaria
How about it if those little ones were to vanish, Hilde?
You'd probably have quite the nightmare tonight, would you not?
Hilde
Damn it...!
Omega! Now!
Omega
Ngh...!
Here it goes!!
Rosaria
Ngh...?!
Asherah
We did it!
Good job, Hilde!
Yoo Mina
No way... Did you really cut her?
Hilde
Give it up, Asmodeus.
The [Qliphoth Game] hasn't even begun yet. Stop this pointless fight.
Rosaria
Hmm...
Indeed. On a properly scripted stage, this is as far as it goes.
Hilde
...What are you talking about?
Rosaria
I mean your victory was already decided from the start.
So from here on out, this is my own improvisation, Hilde.
If you don't get what I mean, I will show you myself.
As soon as Rosaria finished talking, flames gathered at the tip of her blade—
Yoo Mina
Everyone, fall back!
Omega
Mina...!
Asherah
No! Mina!
She blocked it by herself...?
Rosaria
Oh? So you've finally got that look back. Just as I remember it.
No doubt it's because of that young Wolf you're so fond of, hmm?
Hilde
Asmodeus...!
Why are you doing this?! The [Qliphoth Game] hasn't started yet!
You can't possibly be unaware of that!
Rosaria
Ahahaha! Of course I know!
But you have it backwards, Hilde.
Before you take it out at me, should you not check on the young Wolf's condition first?
Hilde
Are you mocking us?
The rookie is still green! That blast just now was—!
Yoo Mina
...H-huh?
Hilde
...Rookie?
How did you withstand that attack just now?
Asherah
Thank goodness, you're alive!
Omega
Wow...! So Mina is actually super strong too?
I don't think that's it.
Omega
Huh? But that attack was super dangerous just now!
Yoo Mina
...No. The Captain's right.
Just now... I was sure I was dead.
But when I opened my eyes... I was completely fine.
Asherah
Really? Then what on earth happened?
Rosaria
You have misjudged me, mortal.
Rosaria!
Just as I thought... You know something, don't you?
Rosaria
Of course I do, acting servant.
I have grown sick of seeing such carefully staged setups in the [Qliphoth Game].
So did I not personally demonstrate it for you foolish lot?
The one who created this situation is...
That young Wolf over there.
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