I parried and dodged the light orbs that rained down like a torrential storm, never once taking my eyes off the enemy.
With twenty wings and a beauty so unearthly she seemed to have stepped right out of a fine painting, the mysterious figure who had suddenly appeared before Kaito-san and me was a terrifying opponent. As the seconds ticked by, our exchange grew increasingly fierce.
The sheer weight of her power and magic... I didn't know her identity, but I suspected she was a god from some distant realm. Even by my estimation, this angel was likely equal to or even stronger than Kuro-san. Each light orb she fired contained enough energy to vaporize an island; there was no doubt she was a monster far beyond human comprehension.
Had she truly rivaled Kuro-san, it would have been natural for me to fall into despair—after all, I had once been utterly helpless against her. But the emotion surging in my heart now was something else entirely.
...I didn't feel like I would lose. How many years had it been since I felt this way? This sensation...
Compared to the days when I lived as Alicia, both my physical ability and my magic power had become incomparably greater. Yet, when I first came to this world and lost to Kuro-san, my only thought was: "When did I become so weak?"
It might have sounded contradictory, but I had certainly become weaker than when I was Alicia. Back then, no matter how powerful the foe, my heart never broke. If my current self couldn't win, I would grow into a version of myself that could during the heat of battle. To protect those precious to me, I did that as a matter of course.
It might have sounded like mere sentimentality, but my Heart Tool was a unique power that grew more radiant the stronger my heart shone. Depending on the state of my soul, it could be an invincible blade or a piece of dull scrap metal.
My heart had broken once, and with it, my strength had vanished. I hadn't lost Hecatoncheir itself, but as long as my heart remained incomplete, it could never reach its true potential. Under Kuro-san’s tutelage, I became able to use my magic power to its full extent... but I hadn't grown a single bit since then. That sensation of being able to grow stronger without limit had been lost to me for a long time.
"The bonds I've woven are my power"—back when I was Alicia, I had said those words. They were the undeniable truth. Having lost my heart and my bonds, I had become far too weak.
But I was different now. The light orbs released by the mysterious angel continued to increase in speed and power, yet I found myself accelerating to match them. My heart throbbed loudly, and a bottomless power overflowed from within. Ah, that was it. So that was how it worked.
My heart was meant to be broken, yet before I knew it, Kaito-san had gathered the pieces and forged them into something new. He allowed me to be reborn with a heart named Alice.
"...Heh, hehehe... Hahaha..."
A smile leaked from my lips involuntarily. It had returned—my power, my strength!
"Ever since I lost everyone, I've been incomplete. It was like my parts didn't fit right, as if something was always missing."
"...Magic power... rapid... increase?"
"There is an enemy in front of me that I must defeat, and behind me, there is someone precious I must protect. Ah, this is it... this is the real me. Finally, I’ve caught up to my old self..."
My heart pulsed so hard it felt like it would burst. A searing heat dwelled within my body, and the lights of Hecatoncheir dancing around me pulsated in rhythm.
"This is it—this very moment—the pinnacle of my heart! Surpassing the limit... weave the world! Hecatoncheir!!"
This was the ultimate form of Hecatoncheir, the one that had failed during my fight with Kuro-san. I took all the bonds I had accumulated into my body, adding them to my own strength. This was the power that had once woven together the wishes and hopes of an entire world to defeat the Evil God. Just as there is no end to human hope, there were no limits to my power.
"Iris, Noel... everyone, lend me your strength. I won't let Kaito-san be taken. I won't lose him... I won't lose to anyone! Now... let us begin! My second god-slaying!"
Imbued with an infinite power that knew no end, I drew my blade to slay the nameless god.
Well, in the end, that battle resulted in an interruption... but that didn't matter. For me, the real problem came afterward.
I had caught up to my former self. And the moment I realized that it was all thanks to meeting Kaito-san and falling in love, I was suddenly gripped by terror.
Originally, the only reason I had pursued romance was to follow Iris into death. Was I still planning to die once my love with Kaito-san bore fruit? That question haunted me. I wanted to be with Kaito-san. I wanted to keep laughing with him forever. That was my undeniable wish. But I suddenly became anxious about what he would think.
Trying to find love just so I could fulfill a best friend's wish and then die—honestly, I was a terrible person. If I directed such feelings, laced with a death wish, toward him, wouldn't Kaito-san despise me? Wouldn't he leave me? The thought terrified me. While I believed he would surely accept me, the "what if" wouldn't disappear.
Worse, I didn't even know what I wanted. Did I want to live or die? I couldn't even trust my own feelings.
Ultimately, that moping was pulverized by a heavy-handed straight punch from Fate-san. To be honest, I never expected her to have such a passionate side. It seemed that once in twenty thousand years, even Fate-san could pull through when it mattered.
After that, I conveyed my feelings to Kaito-san, became his lover... and reunited with Iris...
Drifting out of a slumber, I slowly opened my eyes to see the face of my beloved, accompanied by a soothing warmth. Ah, that was right. After playing together today, we had settled down for some reading. It seemed I had fallen asleep.
I had Split Bodies stationed to watch the surroundings, so Kaito-san’s protection was perfect, but still...
"...How long was I out?"
"Maybe a little over an hour?"
"Mmm, that's quite a blunder... Well, it’s all Kaito-san’s fault for being so warm and cozy, like a sunny spot. Therefore, the fact that I dozed off is your fault!"
"That’s beyond unreasonable... Or rather, why is the shopkeeper napping while I'm the one watching the store?"
"So, any customers in that hour?"
"There's no way they'd come, right?"
"True~"
I slowly lifted my face from Kaito-san’s shoulder. To be blunt, I hated leaving the warmth that reached all the way to my soul... but I would make up for it by acting spoiled and recharging plenty once night came.
Come to think of it, it had been a very long time since I had truly dozed off like that. Perhaps it meant my heart had finally found some peace.
As I pondered that, Kaito-san looked at the clock on the wall.
"...Before I knew it, it became lunchtime."
"Shall I make something?"
"Hmm, that would be fine too, but since we're here, let's go out. I heard a new place opened on Central Street..."
"Oh, that sounds good. According to Alice-chan's research, that place has a great reputation."
I would have been perfectly happy serving him a home-cooked meal filled with love, but the idea of going out with Kaito-san was even better. As for the shop? I'd just leave it closed. It wasn't like customers were coming anyway.
"Alright, let’s go, Alice."
"...Yes!"
I really loved being called Alice by him. Not Alicia, not Shaltier, not No Face... but being by his side as just Alice made it all feel real. Chewing on the happiness spreading through my chest, I squeezed the hand Kaito-san offered me.
"...I desire a luxurious lunch!"
"You really are something..."
"All-you-can-eat? Thank you very much!"
"I didn't say that!! Honestly..."
Kaito-san gave a wry smile. He showed me that expression I loved so much—one that said he had no choice, yet was filled with endless kindness.
Truly, you never know what life has in store. My current self was something my past self couldn't have even imagined. After hundreds of thousands of years, I finally learned that loving someone precious is such a warm, joyous thing.
Thank you, Kaito-san. Please, let me stay by your side forever... not as anyone else, but as the Alice who loves you.
???: "Boy, the Alice-chan Arc is full of laughter and tears; it's wonderful. Reading this extra chapter makes me want to read the whole arc all over again! It really is cinematic. Anyway... that concludes Alice-chan's extra chapter. You must be exhausted from all that unaccustomed serious development, but don't worry about what's next!"
Serious-senpai: "...What exactly is starting?"
???: "Don't you know? The Sugar Carnival is about to begin."
Serious-senpai: "...I'm doomed."