"Oh, so that’s what you’re holding...!"
Regen narrowed his eyes with malice as he recognized the crossbow in Jinba's hands.
Jinba could hear the mockery—and a distinct edge of fury—bleeding into the villain's voice. He leaned into the provocation.
"That brings back memories," Regen sneered. "I recall that Magic Item; it belonged to the pathetic bastard I slaughtered like a dog."
"That’s right. It’s my partner's weapon—the one that shattered your precious Birdcage and sent you scurrying into the gutters for years."
A vein pulsed visibly in Regen’s forehead.
Jinba felt a surge of grim satisfaction. As he suspected, this crossbow and the memories of that day were symbols of ultimate humiliation for Regen. Keeping his aim steady on the villain’s artifact, Jinba made a silent vow.
Thomas... the life you gave me, I’m putting it to use here. To protect this city—to protect these young lives!!
Just as his partner had once sacrificed everything to save him, it was now Jinba's turn to risk it all for Yugo and the children.
Saving Yugo—a young man destined to become a great Magic Knight—was worth any price. If Jinba had to burn his own life to ashes to make it happen, he would do so gladly.
"Hah...! Don't tell me you’re planning the same stunt that man pulled? You think you can break the Birdcage by trading your life for it!?"
"Who knows...? If you’re that scared, you’re welcome to run, Regen. You finally managed to crawl back into the light; surely you don't want to go back to living like a rat so soon?"
"You...! Don't you dare look down on me!"
Jinba had been hunting this nemesis since the day his partner died. He could read the monster’s mind perfectly.
Faced with those humiliating memories, the crossbow that symbolized them, and Jinba himself—a living reminder of his failure—Regen wouldn't be able to resist trying to finish this with his own hands.
He wouldn't run. He couldn't.
As the boss of a criminal syndicate, Regen couldn't afford to tuck tail and flee after being baited so blatantly.
More than that, Jinba knew Regen wanted closure just as much as he did. Inducing the villain’s rage, Jinba exhaled, finalizing his resolve to throw his life away.
Forgive me, Yugo... I’m leaving you with a heavy burden. But I know you’ll become a magnificent Magic Knight. You’ll be the greatest hero—someone far better than I ever was...
Though they had only known each other a short time, Jinba had seen Yugo’s unwavering integrity again and again.
He couldn't let such a sincere, earnest path end here. If his own life was the price to rescue Yugo, Jinba would pay it with a smile. He sent a final thought to his departed friend.
Sorry I kept you waiting, partner. I’m on my way...!
He would use the life Thomas had saved to protect even more people.
He convinced himself that his survival until now had been solely for this moment. His finger tightened on the trigger.
Regen gathered Magic Power in his wings, preparing to strike. Simultaneously, Jinba manifested his own magic into a glowing arrow, fixing his sights on the Birdcage. And then—
Jinba, don't be a fool. Thinking it’s fine to die and actually dying are two very different things.
"What...?"
Just before he pulled the trigger, a familiar, gentle voice reached his ears.
Startled, Jinba looked toward the source and gasped. There, standing beside him, was the image of his former partner.
Jinba... I didn't save you just so you could go and die. Do you really think I want you to throw your life away for revenge? You already know the answer, partner.
"Tho...mas...?"
Jinba was stunned into silence by the sight of his friend smiling at him.
The moment the translucent figure vanished, Regen’s roar shattered the air.
"Die, Jinba!!"
"——!!"
Shaken by his partner's words, Jinba’s tunnel vision cleared. He snapped back to reality and threw himself to the side.
I didn't save you just so you could die... Heeding Thomas's wish, Jinba chose to keep the life he had been given.
"Dammit...!"
Because he had fired while mid-leap, his aim was off. The bolt failed to score a direct hit.
Regen cackled as he watched the arrow graze the Birdcage and dissolve into nothingness. He looked down at Jinba as Melt and the others rushed to the investigator's side.
"Ahahahaha! You chickened out at the very last second, Jinba! Your partner threw his life away to save you, but when it came down to it, you chose your own skin instead!"
"Shut up! Investigator Jinba wasn't being selfish!" Melt cried out. "He chose the path where nobody has to die!"
"That's right! Jinba-san isn't running away!" Marcos added.
"Ha! Is that so? But because your precious Jinba flinched, the children are still trapped in here! It’s an undeniable fact that he blew the only chance you had to save them!"
Regen laughed triumphantly, holding the Birdcage aloft in his left hand.
He was in high spirits, savoring a victory that finally erased the sting of his past defeat. His laughter echoed through the area... until a voice cut through it.
"Now then, I wouldn't be so sure about that. Jinba-san didn't blow anything."
"Wha...?"
"That voice...!"
"Yugo!?"
Not just Regen, but Marcos and the others were wide-eyed with shock. It was unmistakably Yugo’s voice coming from within the artifact.
As the crowd reeled, wondering how he could project his voice from inside a subspace that should have been completely isolated, Yugo began to speak with the rhythm of a heroic incantation.
"Intercepting lawless evil—"
"Hey! What the hell are you doing in there!?"
Regen didn't understand what was happening, but a cold spike of dread shot through him as he listened to Yugo’s chant. He tried to silence the boy, but it was far too late.
Yugo had no intention of listening to a villain. He shouted the words that defined his mission and unleashed his fist.
"Smashing through the darkness of fear...!!"