The Third Condition
A sickening crunch of shattering bone echoed through the air. "Kugh...! You... you..." The red-haired woman spat out a pained death rattle. Thud! With her final curse still forming on her lips, she collapsed. At the same moment, every flame across the ruined site flickered and died.
The surroundings plunged into sudden darkness. Though the air still carried lingering heat, it cooled rapidly, signaling that the fierce battle had finally ended. Not far from the scene, on the rooftop of an adjacent building, a black-haired girl who had watched the entire fight from start to finish clapped her hands together with a bright, childlike smile.
"..." Beside her stood an identical white-haired girl who had not been visible moments ago. She wore a detached, indifferent expression. Though the two looked like twins, their auras could not have been more different. Surprisingly, it was the white-haired girl who spoke first.
"Anyone can think about what is right, but turning that thought into action is exceedingly rare. I am genuinely impressed."
"Well, that's because Oppa is an idiot. Hehe."
"...An idiot? That is not something you should be saying, Sister..."
"Hmm?" The white-haired girl started to reply, then stopped when she saw her sister staring back with wide, innocent eyes, as if she truly did not understand.
The three conditions had already been met, and the human had finally made his choice. But did he realize that one of those conditions had been himself?
"...It is nothing. I cannot deny it. Humans who think too much rarely make decisions."
"Then what exactly are those three conditions my dear little sister mentioned?"
"Eek..." The black-haired girl, who had been unusually quiet today, suddenly clung to her sister's waist with a mischievous grin. "You already know everything, so why ask?"
"Umm, I really don't know... Sister is the idiot, hehe."
"Stop tickling me...! The conditions for this little farce to end the way he wanted... that is what they were."
One condition was that he would draw Sister into this incident. Not by request or force, but by creating a variable that made her want to get involved herself. Under normal circumstances, they were not supposed to directly interfere in such conflicts. That was why Sister had brought one of his close familiars here under the pretext of an unrelated promise, kindly erased its presence, and allowed it to enter the building.
"Of course, it is not entirely over yet... but the ending has already been twisted."
"In a good way for us?"
"...If I had to say... yes."
In this world, existence is usually perceived through the five senses. However, because the familiar's presence had been cleanly erased, it could not be observed as a living being. It moved freely inside the building without triggering any of the doorframe sensors. At the perfect moment, once every actor was in position, the curtain rose.
"..."
When the familiar finally reached the basement, the red-haired woman had detected it not through her senses, but through traces of its ability. The familiar must have thought it was unlucky at the time, but in the end, being perceived as a living creature allowed it to cross the doorframe and trigger the mechanism just before the flames reached it, saving its life.
...That was the first condition.
"Then what was the second?"
"...Haa."
The white-haired girl sighed softly as her sister asked the question so naturally, as if she were reading her mind. Sometimes it felt mischievous, even though she already knew everything.
"For him to realize the weight of life."
...Was her name Harpia? Though unusual, after witnessing the result of cross-species mating—the birth of new life—he had come to value his bond with those he held goodwill toward even more deeply. He also began to regard his own life as heavier than before. That was precisely why his choice carried genuine weight. Even if he wished to love everyone, there were undoubtedly some to whom he wished to give far more of his heart. He could have turned away from danger and fear under the excuse of protecting them, but he did not. He never lost his original resolve. The value of the sacrifice he showed was something ordinary humans could never possess. She felt she could understand a little of the favor and interest Sister showed him.
"..."
Having finished explaining the second condition, the girl chose to fall silent rather than wait for the next question. Only one condition remained. Her pure white eyes turned toward the fallen Counselor lying in the center of the distant ruins.
"And the final condition... you will see it very soon."
*
"..."
Thud! Even if an ordinary human had gone into shock and died from such pain, it would not have been strange. Yet he had only lost consciousness. The fact that he could even be called "safe" in this state proved just how insane his actions had been. To stab a red-hot piece of metal into his own stomach and then twist it again inside... he was not in his right mind.
"Hey! Counselor...!"
With one arm cradling the limp, sobbing cat, the Field Team Leader approached the motionless Counselor. She could feel his breathing gradually fading. If he was still alive—even if only barely—then no matter how severe his injuries, Undine could heal him. But...
"Ugh..."
Staggering, she realized she had almost no strength left after the blow that had taken down the Fire Chicken. If she could return to her original form it might be different, but getting him back to the facility in time was practically impossible now. The President could not leave the facility for fear of a break-in, and that usually carefree guy had already been carried away after collapsing while trying to protect people during the Fire Chicken's first appearance.
"Do something, anything...!"
"I... can't do anything more..."
Although bleeding was minimal because the wounds had been cauterized, most of his internal organs had already been irreparably damaged by the heat.
"Uuu, uwaaah..."
The cat slipped from her arms and dragged itself toward the Counselor using only its chin, then pressed its body against him. It no longer had the strength to move its limbs.
"Master... hwaaang..."
Watching the pitiful sight, the Field Team Leader felt her chest tighten.
"...Why did you go this far...?"
She had not stayed behind alone to fight because she wanted this outcome. When she first saw him appear, thinking he was going to die, she had even wondered why someone who could not fight properly had come. But she had been wrong. He had succeeded in the end. She now owed him her life, yet there was no longer any way to repay him.
"..."
In the distance, she could see team members running over with restraints and stretchers.
"Team Leader...! The wound... Ah, this person is clearly..."
"...Forget the rest. Can you save him?"
While the red-haired woman's restraints were being secured, the medical team examined the Counselor and swallowed hard, their faces darkening. Even those skilled in emergency care seemed at a loss about where to begin.
"..."
"..."
After a brief silence, the conclusion was obvious.
"I'm... truly sorry, but..."
"No. Don't say anything more."
...She could not just do nothing.
"Where are you trying to take Master...?"
"..."
Though her body ached and creaked everywhere, she lifted the Counselor into her arms. She could feel his temperature and heartbeat rapidly fading. Just as he had thrown himself into an impossible fight with nothing but his bare body, she gathered strength in her legs, determined to carry him to the facility even though she knew it was impossible.
"Please... just hold on a little longer."
Her heartfelt plea would not reach him in his current state, but she still wished for it to be heard. Just as she was about to confirm the direction to the facility...
"...?"
She froze in place at the unbelievable sight before her. The blade that had melted into his flesh and fused with it was slowly being pushed out of his body on its own.
Clang...!
At first she thought she was seeing things, but the blade eventually slid free completely and fell from his palm onto the ground. As if time were reversing, new flesh began to grow over the exposed bone of his hand. And from the gaping wound in his stomach, something suddenly poked its head out and spoke.
"Kyuu...?"