I sensed something faint.
It wasn't Sera, who stood blocking my way, nor was it the corpses littering the floor or the massive Magical Beast.
It was a thin ray of light, glinting as if calling out to me.
I recognized that "something." It was a book.
"…Licia, I have a request."
"Of course. Anything. What is it?"
"Just for a moment. Give me the time and space I need to get to the back."
"Understood."
I felt like I was asking for the impossible, but Licia agreed without a second thought. Ever since I'd arrived in this world, I’d found her dependability to be nothing short of staggering.
"…!"
Immediately, Licia’s flame magic scored a direct hit on the approaching Sera. I watched the scene out of the corner of my eye even as I ran.
Sera emerged from the dissipating smoke, charging forward as if she were completely unscathed—which, apparently, she was.
Licia responded with more magic. A point-blank fireball intercepted the path of the sword.
"…Tch! How petty!"
"Which of us is being petty, using a sword like that?"
Was there a specific condition for her to negate magic? It didn't seem like it so far, but I suspected there might be some kind of cooldown or recast time.
"…Urgh!"
…Then again, thinking about that might be pointless. That single factor wasn't enough to bridge the massive gap between Licia and Sera.
I just had to believe. I was almost there. I had no choice but to believe and keep running.
"…What! These things!"
Suddenly, small slime monsters manifested at my feet. Tentacles extending from their pitch-black, tar-like bodies coiled around my legs.
"Damn it, how annoying!"
Sera showed no signs of coming this way, but even so, the opening Licia had created was being wasted. If I didn't hurry, we would all die…!
"Luca! Use it! Use your magic!!!"
"…!"
Magic? I could use it?
…No, it wouldn't be strange if I could. Besides, if my Licia said I could do it, then I could!
"Flame Arcanus!!!"
Flames roared from my palms, incinerating the slimes. The output wasn't nearly what it had been before, but it was enough to break through the immediate obstacle.
The restraint snapped, and I surged forward again. I dodged the reaching tentacles, intercepted others, and never let my feet stop moving.
"…Haah, haah…"
Breathless, I reached the spot. Just as I’d thought, the book was there.
White with gold filigree, its divine aura was palpable, yet I couldn't ignore the black, soot-like substance leaking from it.
As if possessed, I reached out. Just as I was about to touch it—
"…Luca?"
From behind me came the voice of the girl I had laughed and shared a meal with just a short while ago. I reflexively turned around.
"Luca!!! NO!!!"
In the next instant, a single horizontal flash of white light seared across my vision. Then, everything went dark.
It was pitch black. Even when I tried to force my eyes open, I couldn't find the strength.
"…Ah?"
The sickening sensation of flesh rending followed, punctuated by the spray of warm blood. Even without sight, I knew exactly what had happened.
My face felt hot. I couldn't see a thing, but I felt the scalding droplets trickling down my cheeks.
"Ah, aaaaaahhhhgghhh!!!!"
It hurt… It hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt, it hurt!!!
The heat covering my face seemed to intensify. A white-hot agony surged through me, feeling as though it were reaching directly into my brain.
"Luca! Are you okay?! Your eyes, Luca…!"
"…Eh? Luca…? Why… did I…?"
Licia… Is Sera okay?
No, I had to get Licia away from here…
"Li…cia…"
I felt like I was going to lose consciousness from the pain at any second.
"…Please. That book… burn it…!"
"The book…?"
Licia didn't understand for a moment. After forcing those words out, the last of the strength drained from my body.
Licia stood there, shell-shocked. She didn't know what to do. Her mind had gone blank. Even so, she forced her body to move, driven to carry out the objective Luca had desperately requested.
She snatched up the Platinum Tome—which was shining with a brilliance that felt entirely out of place—and set it ablaze. She didn't hesitate for a second; for some reason, she felt nothing but pure loathing for the book.
Sera—the girl Luca had called by name—remained standing still, exactly where she had been after slashing him.
"…Hey. It’s okay if I burn you too, right?"
"…"
There was no reply. Sera didn't even look like she would resist. This woman had stolen the light from Luca’s eyes; surely, Luca would be happy if she disappeared.
Heat pooled in Licia’s palm, taking shape as a roaring flame.
She didn't intend to end it with a single blow. She would burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her, and burn her…
Even if she turned to ash, she would never forgive her.
In the cave that had briefly regained its silence, the sound of hellfire echoed once more.
『T-t-t-t-t, the trial... has end-d-ded...』
『...The Hero... has made a ch-choice.』
『This shall be... etched into... the "Black Original Tome"...』