Lingering Monologue

When did it appear? There was no sound, no presence at all!

Did you call it forth, Asmodeus?

I merely gave a little push to the embers I scattered earlier.

Remove that attachment, and the problem resolves itself.

You owe. Your life. To another's death.

Living like that. What meaning does it have?

Must you devour. Before you are satisfied?

You may have been the cause, but now, that thing is the very foundation sustaining this world.

That thing must be stronger than you think it is.

In the end... this is something I have to finish myself.

Very well. I shall join in as well.

Right. Let me teach you one more thing about me.

I despise pests that refuse to leave the stage once their part is over.

Are you trying. To survive.

Again. By taking. Another person's life?

I might've been drowning in regret back then.

Because until the very end... I couldn't protect anyone.

But being here taught me something.

That there are far more people I don't want to lose... than I ever realized.

And so...

You will be the one that's going down.

Give. Up. Struggling. Will not. Make it. Better.

Sitting around and doing nothing won't change anything!

Rather than be left in a place like this... I'll take one more step forward myself!

We might be able to finish it off at this point!

Mina, let's end this with the next strike!

In the end. Only. More sacrifices.

D-did we win...?

Well done, rookie.

We did it! Now we can say goodbye to this wasteland!

You really never run out of energy...

Rosaria!

And... um...

Omega said something mean earlier. She's sorry for saying you weren't fully assembled...

Normally I would discipline you, but...

Very well. Today is a rare day I fought alongside Hilde, so I shall show mercy.

Rosaria, you're a good person after all!

This world lost its reason to exist when that creature fell.

It no longer has the power to persist.

Before long, we'll be back where we belong.

Hear me, acting servant.

Even if it was temporary, do not forget that you served me.

If you let a pack of small fry beat you, be prepared for the consequences.

More importantly, our rookie ended up dragging your world into something troublesome.

The [Buster Core] wanted Omega to tell you something.

It asked you not to use it too roughly.

Commander treats machines with care. She even types on the keyboard with one finger at a time.

Did you say the trial you're undertaking was called the [Journey]?

Do your best. You've got plenty of room to grow.

It seems you should stay here a little longer, rookie.

How do you feel? Better now?

Once things return to how they were, I'll be facing the Replacer King.

I never planned on losing to him anyway.

Thank you, everyone. For coming here.

Thanks to you, I remembered why I chose to fight.

When you return, what you experienced here will feel like a dream.

So now...

It may have felt like a long stay to you, but here, you were gone only briefly.

As you can see, the [scar] has begun to heal.

This must be thanks to your efforts.

The scar... It's disappearing!

No matter how long it takes, wounds always heal.

I owe the three of you my thanks.

You did wonderfully, even though this was your first experience with a matter like this.

Come to think of it, I wonder if Mina took care of everything after she went back...

Let's go tell Luna and Smile!

Please keep watching over our [Journey]!

And Captain?

No need to get sentimental.

Someday, you will meet again.