𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞
Albero and Kid came to the small hill where Shin was.
On the hill, Shin sat in an oddly placed chair, with Apocalypse kneeling beside her.
Shin smiled warmly upon seeing Albero.
ㅤ
“Hey there~♪.”
“. . . . . .Shin・Asgard.”
“Just Shin is fine. More importantly, you’ve become quite strong. Just a hundred days can make such a difference, humans are really amazing.”
“Training physically for just a hundred days means nothing. So. . . . . .I spoke with Jabberwock.”
“. . . . . .Hmm.”
ㅤ
Shin leaned back in her chair.
Crossing her legs, she looked at Albero and laughed.
ㅤ
“You’re prepared to give up your life, huh?”
“. . . . . .”
“You should stop. You’re still young. . . . . .It’d be a waste to die here.”
“So?”
“How about coming with me? I’ll do anything you wish for. You can embrace me as much as you want, and if there’s anything you desire, I’ll get it for you. How about it?”
“I don’t need that. Plus, I’m not as lonely as you, am I?”
“. . . . . .Lonely?”
“Yeah. You might act cheerful, but I can somewhat tell. You’re lonely, aren’t you?”
“. . . . . .Lonely, huh? Hmm. Never thought about it. I have plenty of companions, so I’m not particularly lonely. . . . . .Hmm.”
ㅤ
Shin seemed lost in thought.
Somehow, Albero understood.
Shin was truly alone. No matter how much she tried to make her Summoned beasts appear human, or act like humans. . . . . .they weren’t humans.
Albero understood. Summoned beasts are Summoned beasts, and humans are humans.
That’s why they can join hands. But Shin doesn’t have that. She sees them only as tools to use.
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“Your left hand. . . . . .Queen・of・Hearts. Is Queen’s consciousness still there?”
“No. She was once defeated by Jabberwock and disappeared.”
“I see. . . . . .but Jabberwock said Queen’s consciousness is still there.”
“Eh. . . . . .?”
“You see that left hand as just a tool, don’t you? Have you ever truly spoken to Queen?”
“Of course I have! I love Queen! And Queen loves me too!”
“Then. . . . . .why doesn’t Queen’s will show itself?”
“T, That’s. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Shin couldn’t answer.
Looking down, tilting her head, swinging her arm like a child.
If they truly communicated, she should be able to hear Queen’s voice. Just as Albero and Mog communicate, Shin should be able to converse with Queen.
This inability is his biggest and last opportunity.
To strip Queen away from Shin.
There’s only one way.
ㅤ
“Shin・Asgard. . . . . .I’ll bring out the Queen inside you. And then. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Pull her out.
Albero readied his right arm.
Then. . . . . .the kneeling Apocalypse stood up.
His eyes focused on Albero.
But. . . . . .Kid, who had been silent until now, stepped forward.
ㅤ
“I’ll take care of that small fry.”
“. . . . . .Master. I’ll dispose of this trash.”
“I’ll leave it to you. I’ve become quite interested in talking more with Albero.”
ㅤ
Apocalypse bowed respectfully.
Then, his body began to transform.
His skin shimmered like gleaming steel, bulging out as if turning into armor. His face took on a form resembling a helmet, and in his hand, he held a large sword.
A form as a summoned beast. However, unlike the usual immense form, it had a design that seemed packed with flesh and refined.
Kid whistled lightly.
ㅤ
“This one, even stronger than Beelzebub. . . . . .No, he might be the strongest I’ve ever summoned. He might turn someone like you into minced meat.”
“Are you stupid? There’s no way I’d get beaten by such a small fry.”
ㅤ
Kid playfully slapped Albero’s shoulder.
ㅤ
“If you die, I’ll kill you.”
“Same to you, Kid.”
“Hmph. . . . . .”
ㅤ
Kid laughed, and Albero thrust his left fist towards Kid.
Kid met it with his right fist.
ㅤ
“Once this is over. . . . . .have a drink with me.”
“Sure. I’m turning sixteen soon, so I can have as many as I want.”
“Heh. . . . . .Such a cheeky kid. See you later, Albero.”
“Wait, you called my name?”
ㅤ
Kid dashed forward, pointing his left hand at Apocalypse.
ㅤ
“Pierce━━『Headsman』!”
“Erase the trash.”
ㅤ
A bullet was fired, and Apocalypse dodged it━━then, the two disappeared into the distance beyond the hill.
Left behind were Shin and Albero.
ㅤ
“Shall we begin?”
ㅤ
Shin stood up and stored the chair she had been sitting on into another dimension.
She pointed her left hand at Albero, who in turn pointed her right hand back.
ㅤ
“Offer up━━『Queen of Hearts』.”
“Take it━━『Jabberwock』.”
ㅤ
Man and woman, black and white, red and blue, king and queen, right and left.
These two, who were polar opposites in every way, stared at each other with the one thing they had in common: golden eyes.
ㅤ
“Albero, you’ll regret picking a fight with me.”
“You should regret it. . . . . .I will never lose!!”
ㅤ
The final battle begins.
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