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Sakura: Haa~...My stomach is completely full~
Sayuki: It was delicious, Nii-san.
Reiji: Yeah. It's good to eat out every once in a while.
Since today was a special holiday we decided to eat out for the first time in a while.
While Ichigo-san was unfortunately not able to come, we walk back home with satisfied faces and stomachs.
The taste of the food psyches me up, for I know I'll have a big battle on my hands when we return to school tomorrow.
Reiji: ...
However, something about this whole situation finally hits me.
Reiji: Hey, Sakura, Sayuki...While things have been going well...I'm worried about something.
Sayuki: Worried about something?
Reiji: Yeah. I only just realized this...But it's been quite a while since Eyespace last occured, hasn't it?
Sakura: Nn. This place has been peaceful for a while now.
Reiji: It hasn't been too long ago, but the time between each occurance had been shortening.
That's part of the reason why we all started to become a little paranoid.
Sayuki: ! ...You mean, in other words-
Reiji: Yeah. That belligerent Game Master, Arizuka, said it as well...It's like our minds were synchronizing with the hostility of that space.
Sakura: If you look at it that way...It certainly is possible! That's why the ritual kept accelerating, to make us stay unstable and confused...
Sayuki: And we're slowly cornered into fighting each other until someone falls...Long before we can even hope to find the mastermind.
Reiji: Yeah. When I think of it like that, everything makes sense. While it seemed almost random, it has to have been regulated...
This whole scenario has been Odin's "trap".
Sakura: But, if that's the case...Than what about the ghost girl?
Reiji: As for that, I have no idea...But I don't think that she and Odin are allies.
Reiji: We've been searching for her for a while, and I'm sure she would have attacked us by now if she were our enemy.
I think she's an Irregualar presence here is something outside of Odin's calculations.
Sayuki: An Irregular...You mean just that she's just like you, and is someone that wasn't part of Odin's plan, Nii-san?
Sakura: But...If we think about it rationally, that shouldn't be possible.
Sakura: Other than Master, isn't every other magi on the island has been accounted for already?
Reiji: That may not necessairly be true...Here, if we say that Ryuichi and Sayuki are a lesser type of magi-
Sayuki: Like a Magician and Creator role, right? (Master and Apprentice)
Reiji: Yeah, something like that. I think that's what that person sort of is.
Sayuki: I thought that at first as well...Everyone on the island currently has their abilities limited.
Sayuki: Therefore, in order for her to cause a rumor like that, she has to be special in some way.
Reiji: I see...
Than, there is still a good chance that Odin and this girl could be cooperating in some way.
Somehow, it seems like it will be impossible to figure out who Odin is if no one else is sacrificed...
Sayuki: However, perhaps she's like Nii-san and she only recently awakened, or-
Sakura: Ah...
Sakura: Perhaps Eyespace is unable to bring anything other then magi to that space?
Sayuki: Maybe. Therefore...!
Reiji: I see...!
Coming to the same conclusion, we all look at each other at the same time.
Sayuki: The "Ghost" girl...!
Reiji: Yeah! If her ability has caused her to actually become a sort of ghost...Than perhaps it's impossible for her to be taken to that space!
Sakura: If she can really do that, then there's no doubt about it, she IS an Irregular?
Reiji: Yeah. She has to be.
I slam my fist into my other palm, finally having figured out the reason why I've felt so anxious during these past few peaceful days.
Sayuki: But, in that case, I doubt that she knows it herself.
Reiji: However, this may just be our "trump card" here. Even if she's not our ally,
if she's derailed Odin's plan this much than it has to be driving him nuts.
Sakura: You're right. Before that girl is put in danger, we have to find and protect her.
Reiji: Either way, I want to find her just so we can be sure of this.
Sayuki: Nn. We owe our thanks to that girl for allowing us to stop suspecting each other.
It's because of her we haven't had to fight, and been able to spend our days in peace.
Sakura: It's all thanks to the ghost girl~
Reiji: Yeah, I want to thank her as well. This has to be an unexpected blow to Odin's plan.
Sayuki: And, that means that there's no way that Odin can be using someone elses form.
Reiji: Yup. Alright, it seems our hope has been restored a little bit.
After all that's gone on with us being paranoid, with this news, we may be able to slowly mend our bonds of trust.
Even if Amamiya and Satomura are a bit unstable, I'm sure they both feel that as Odin is our common enemy, we can work together to defeat him.
If we all stand united, then we should be able to take steps to force Odin out into the open.
Even though we might have been hostile towards each other at first,
what was impossible before is capable of being done if we stick together as "comrades".
Nevertheless, we have to strike before any doubt can form.
Yes, because this is the only time, if everyone believes us and cooperates-
???: Good grief...So there's another Irregular involved after all.
Reiji: NA...?!
Sakura: Eyespace...!
Sayuki: Nii-san!
Just as a ray of hope shined through for us in the midst of all the despair...
As if ridiculing us, the world is colored over again by dark blue.
???: I never expected that an existence so small would have thrown off my calculations by so much.
Reiji: ...?!
And the incarnation of despair itself...appears in front of us.
Sakura: W-Who is he...?!
Sayuki: It can't be...!
Reiji: Odin...!!
Odin: ...
My instincts scream in protest, and even though he is just standing there, my mouth hangs open in shock.
Yes...There's no question about it, the reactions my body are having are all I need to know that's who he is.
This man is the root of all evil...the "final enemy" that we've been searching for all this time...!
Odin: ...Hm.
Odin quietly opens his eyes and gazes at us.
All three of us automatically shift into an attack stance, trying to ascertain our next move.
While I know that the first move is important to victory...No, the overwhelming pressure this man emits
keeps my feet firmly planted on the ground, unable to move even an inch.
As he looks at us, Odin slowly opens his mouth and speaks his first words to us.
Odin: Reiji. I'm taking you under my wing. You will be the new Game Master...With the "Ultimate Magic" as the prize.
Sayuki: NA...
Reiji: What...the hell...?!
However, the words he speaks take us completely by surprise.
Odin: While Ryuichi was a better candidate at the start, as for working together...it would have been difficult to persuade him to do so.
Odin: Therefore, now that Arizuka Jin has disappeared, thanks to the Irregular none of you feel a sense of crisis or hostile towards one another,
so I came to pick a new Game Master as the moderator of this ritual.
Sakura: Moderator...?
Odin: Correct. In order to fix this stagnation, a new Game Master must be chosen...and you are the one I have chosen.
Sayuki: What, are you...
Odin: Reiji. Even though your participation was not expected...I am now glad that you involved yourself.
Reiji: What...?
Odin: The magic you have hidden inside you...Is truly wonderful.
Odin: Even though you can't hold a candle to me, you are still far and above most other magi.
Odin: While you haven't mastered it yet, you can be a powerful force. If we were to fight later in this war, I'm confident you would have won.
Reiji: Tch!!
Odin: I can feel the raw potential in you...Everytime you fight you exceed my expectations, and you are still a work in progress.
Odin: Therefore, I want you to become the Game Master on my behalf.
Sayuki: ...
Sakura: ...Master...
Reiji: ...
Both of their worried gazes pierce straight through me.
But it's as if time itself has stopped, and I can't move even one step.
Odin: There are two rules you must follow when you agree to become the Game Master.
Odin: First of all, all remaining Magi must be killed.
Reiji: !!
Odin: I spent many long years preparing this space, but I was finally able to begin this "ritual".
Odin: However, it was not without it's price...It takes a vast amount of magic to activate this space.
Odin: Although it is simple to hold once the ritual reaches it's final stage...At this stage of the ritual it is still difficult to maintain.
Odin: Therefore, until this ritual reaches it's final stage, I have to use the majority of my magic in order to maintain Eyespace.
Odin: Until I dissolve it, my current magic reserves...Aren't even half of what they normally are.
Reiji: Na...
Odin: Of course, since my reserves are that depleted there is no guarentee that I can wipe out the rest of the magi by myself.
Odin: That's why since I'm at less than half my power I would prefer not to fight, but I will if I must.
Sayuki: ...
Odin: This space has a condition where the victor will absorb the magic of the loser.
Odin: That's why it is preferable for there to be someone who exists as an influential antagonist...That is my role.
Odin: That is why an enormous amount of magical power is required to obtain the "Ultimate Magic".
Sakura: ...
We stand there at a loss for words, listening to the man in front of us speak.
---It's impossible.
Odin had been hiding all this time, and than he suddenly appears in front of us and talks at great length, giving us a ton of information...
His actions are beyond comprehension and absolutely foolish, but his boldness makes it pointless to question his sanity.
It's too unexpected...Either he "trapped" us in order to see what we would do next...
Or his absurd reasoning is just another way for him to hide the truth.
Reiji: ...
However...Even though there's no reason for me to do so, I can't help but believe that he is telling the truth.
Because it seems like an obvious joke, it has to be true. But I can do nothing but stand there in confusion, my body trembling like mad.
I have to believe that he's telling us all this to lure me in.
I want to think that what he's saying has nothing to do with me...No, actually, I don't think he sees us as enemies at all.
He stands there with absolute confidence...In other words, he believes what he says.
There is no human who would formulate a strategy according to the whims of ants...
This man's only purpose is to annihilate the remaining magi using the most efficient method possible.
That is the only thing this man is thinking about...!
Therefore, to "deviate" things so far from his plan has to be a bad joke...It makes no sense at all.
For us, the outcome of this war has always been uncertain...But for Odin, it's been following his plan from the very beginning until now.
This is just too much...It has to be a joke...!
Odin: And, in order to advance this ritual...There is another rule you must follow.
Reiji: Another rule...?
Odin continues to talk even as I'm trying to process everything.
It's as if he thinks I've already accepted his offer...and calmly explaining the role of the Game Master.
Yes...To him, there's no way that I can refuse.
Odin: Reiji...You must find and wipe out the Irregular stalling the ritual.
Sakura: ...!
Sayuki: I knew it...
Reiji: So there is someone else involved that you couldn't predict...!
Odin: ...Of course, I will not deny that this uninvited guest was not within my predictions.
Odin: However, I also couldn't predict that yet one more person would get involved either...
Reiji: One more...?
From what we know, there are thirteen magi that were participants in this ritual...
Sayuki and myself, Satomura and Suzushiro, Ryuichi and Amamiya, Arizuka and Kajiura,
Hinako and Sanada, that roaring beast known as Todoroki, Kirisaki...and Odin, the mastermind.
That accounts for all thirteen magi involved in this war, but according to him there's someone else that's able to jump to this space?
Thanks to Sakura's skill, I know that there are only seven magi currently in this space right now...
In other words, this man is wrong.
If they really do exist than they must be like the ghost girl, and they are of a different class than magi.
Odin: Yggdrasill...She's also been called a "witch", but she's always been elusive...
Or perhaps...the other "intruder" is just a minion of hers...
Odin: In either case, she is someone else who must be erased.
Odin: I don't need to be reminded again that an unknown factor can cause a lot of problems.
Sakura: Yggdrasill...That's a class that exceeds magi...It's supposed to be impossible for one to exist though...!
Reiji: Someone that's surpassed the level of magi...?!
If there is such a person, than they could be a ray of hope for us...
Even if Odin is a superior magi, if this person is a class above him, than they should be a valuable ally!
Odin: Correct. She is the only person in the world of Yggdrasill class...Such an opponent is far beyond your level right now.
Odin: That's why you can leave her to me.
Odin: Defeating the "Invincible Witch" will indeed be difficult...But I have something special planned for her.
Odin: Only a magi can kill another magi...And I will overthrow her with my power, that of the "Ultimate magi".
Reiji: ...
However, Odin declares his own imminent victory, as if to dash that hope.
And for the first time, we see Odin's eyes sharpen into those that prove he is an "enemy".
Yet he still completely ignores us.
Odin: Of course, since I won't be in prime condition I may have to overdo things a little.
Odin: But she is capable of causing an almost infinite number of problems. ...Without a doubt, she will be the most difficult opponent.
Sayuki: ...
Odin: However, I seem to have the worst luck. For her to attempt to obstruct this important ritual...
Odin: No...perhaps this is also fate...
Reiji: ...
Unable to comprehend the state of mind Odin is in, I stand frozen, my mouth twisted slightly.
As if he were watching a child struggle to crawl for the first time...Odin's mouth curls into a smile.
Odin: Still, I'll offer you a further reward.
Reiji: Eh...?
Wondering why I've kept my silence, Odin returns his gaze to me.
Odin: Your involvement in Ragnarok created a "loophole".
Odin: Other than the winner, one other person can take advantage of them and survive as well. In other words...
Odin: If you use this "loophole"...Both you and I can survive, also with that girl who shares your life.
Reiji: Na...?!
I can't help but eek that out after his words cause me to become even more bewildered.
Odin is now looking directly at Sakura.
In other words, Sakura, my partner, would survive.
That will be my reward if I accept his offer...But that won't be the price I pay if I become the Game Master.
Odin: Either you will lose everything here, or you can save one person...Do you understand the choice before you, Reiji?
Reiji: ...!!
A chill goes down my spine and I tremble uncontrollably underneath his "hostile" gaze.
The words Odin chose carry a certain confidence with them, and it feels as if I have no power to reject him at all.
It is not a suggestion; his words are "warning" me of the consequences of not agreeing with him...
It's similar to a feeling of mercy; while he's sparing us right now, he could crush us the next moment and think nothing of it.
If he does becomes our enemy, we don't even have a one in a million chance of winning.
The weight of his words are so heavy that I'm forced to believe them.
Sayuki: Nii-san...
Reiji: ...!
While I had been trembling under the tremendous pressure of Odin's gaze, Sayuki's soft voice returns me to normal.
My survival instinct starts to kick in and fuels me with courage to support my fear-stricken mind.
No matter how strong the force in front of us is, it cannot quell the burning determination within my heart.
Yes...If I am to protect my beloved Sayuki, than I cannot listen to this man's instructions.
Odin: Let's hear your answer, Reiji. Accept reality, and come with me.
Reiji: Heh...You've got to be kidding me. Of course I refuse.
Odin: What...?
Reiji: There's no need to look surprised, ***. Naturally, that's my answer.
Reiji: I'll kick your *** and defeat you. I'll never turn my back on Sayuki or my friends!
Odin: You, defeat me? No matter who attempts to, that is "impossible".
Odin: I thought you were different from Ryuichi, that you were smarter...
You do understand that the difference between an ideal and reality can never be equal, don't you?
Odin: Your best move right now is to cooperate with me, and bring her with you. You can only protect one thing important to you...
You must make the "decision" to throw everything else away.
Reiji: ...
Something flips on in my chest at the word "decision".
He and I are alike; We've both made the "decision" to throw everything else away to achieve our goals.
Those that swing back and forth between their ideals and reality cannot carry out the "decision" they make themselves,
and if I am to confront the "strongest enemy", than my determination has to match it.
There is something within both of our eyes that makes us inseparable.
But...That's why I cannot accept him or what he stands for...!
Reiji: Sakura, Sayuki.
Sakura: ...! Master...!
Sayuki: Nii-san...!
Showing my powerful resolve to Odin in front of me, my words give courage to the other two.
Sakura, Sayuki and myself...All three of our eyes glow with a strong fighting spirit that liberates us from his spellbinding pressure.
Before our eyes is the mastermind that we've been searching for all this time...If we can defeat him here, it will all be over.
In that case, there's no reason for us to hesistate...!
Reiji: Sorry, but negotiations are over. Here I come, Odin!
Reiji: If you're so confident that we can't win, than go ahead and prove it!!
Odin: I don't understand this...Than I have no choice. I'll entertain you for a short time, so go ahead and refuse as much as you like.
Reiji: Then, we'll just end it while you play-
Odin: ...
Reiji: Geh?!
Odin releases an overwhelming torrent of magical energy the moment I start to direct the other two to attack,
and my mind grinds to a halt once again.
There's no need for me to imagine how terrible he is, or how strong he actually could be...
The difference between us is clearly far too great.
Our best wouldn't matter whether he's at half power as he is now, or at full strength.
With that kind of magical pressure surrounding him, there's no amount of force that could touch him...!
Death.
That is what Odin is: the exact image of death.
The being before my eyes is no longer Odin...It is "Death" itself...!
My instincts tell me that winning is impossible, his strength is overwhelming.
No matter how much I try to will myself otherwise, I know we can't do anything to him. He is that far above us.
Sakura: No way...
Sayuki: That's, tch...!
The two at my side can't help but say so unconsciouslly before the hopeless reality in front of us.
And it's no wonder that the two of them despair.
They are staring at the image of "Death" itself.
No one can confront death and live...Not even magi are exempt from "Death".
Odin: Hm...
Shrouded in despair, Odin slowly begins to walk toward us.
Reiji: Sakura! Sayuki!!
When I notice that happening, I finally regain my senses.
No, my survival instinct forces my mind back and orders me to attack out of desperation...!
Sakura: Ku...You won't approach us so easily!!
Sayuki: Ngh...!!
The other two regain themselves at my words, raining a storm of colored bullets down upon Odin.
Odin: Walkure
Sakura: Na...?!
Sayuki: No way...?!
But, Odin makes Sakura and Sayuki's all-out desperate attack disappear as if it was never there.
No matter how many times they fire their barrage of bullets, Odin makes them completely "Disappear".
It's not as if they slow down and lose their energy and dissipate or anything.
They literally disappear in the blink of an eye.
Reiji: Kuu...
Without knowing the extent of his ability, I find myself hesitating, unable to implement my next move.
I was prepared to use Da Capo to summon Ryuichi and everyone else here,
but seeing his ability causes me to rapidly change my decision.
Yes...It would be too risky to have everyone fighting in one place right now.
With such an overwhelming enemy like Odin, I can't just bring everyone into the fight without a plan.
My intuition tells me that not only is his magical pressure a threat,
but I feel that I haven't even seen what his ability can do yet.
The first thing I have to do is figure out just what Odin's ability is so I can make a plan that has the best chance of succeeding...!
Until than, we have to try and uncover the trick behind it...!
Sayuki: Kheh...!
Sayuki: Weiss Schwarz!!!!
Odin: Useless.
Reiji: ***...not again! No matter what we use, everything disappears before it hits him...!
Sayuki was able to vastly improve the power of her attacks once she absorbed the strength of Kajiura's magical weapon.
But it seems that no matter how powerful any of our attacks are, they cannot reach Odin...
If that's the case, than our only hope might be Suzushiro...Although that idiot Ryuichi may have a trick up his sleeve as well.
They might be the only ones who can oppose his ability.
As my stomach twists in knots, I continue to analyze the scene before me as best I can.
Odin: ------
Sayuki: *Gasp*
Odin's intimidating gaze focuses on Sayuki, and her movements slow immediately.
Odin: This is the end.
Reiji: Na...
A sharp glint lights up his eyes, and I can see Sayuki reflected within them.
Reiji: He's focusing on her...!
I feel frustrated at myself for not noticing up until now due to the sheer force of his magical pressure,
but he's been focusing all of his attention in one direction.
Why didn't I notice it sooner...Before negotiations broke down, he only acknowledged me.
Odin won't give up on obtaining me so easily......and that means that he can't kill Sakura.
In other words, there's only one person who he would be focusing on, who is nothing but a nuisance to him...!
Sakura: You're in danger, Sayuki-chan!
Reiji: Get out of here, Sayuki!!
The three of us realize it at the same time, and Sakura and I simultaneously shout at Sayuki.
Our instincts as living creatures tell us that we can't stop his attack no matter how hard we try.
Sayuki: Tch... Fluegel Blitz!!!!
However, Sayuki bolts away by using another of her abilities, putting as much distance as she can between her and Odin.
For someone who can distort space-time for an instant as she moves, it should be impossible to catch up to her.
Sayuki: Na?!
However.
A moment after Sayuki vanishes she is instantly back in the same spot, as if she had never moved in the first place.
Even though she desperatly tried to escape, Odin forces the situation to turn hopeless in an instant---!
Odin: As I said before, a useless effort. There is nothing that can escape my reach.
Sayuki: Ah---
Death.
His fist is one of absolute death.
If he swings that fist, Sayuki will...
Reiji: SAYUKI!!!
I consider using Da Capo to summon Sayuki to me,
but there's a good chance that if I do so that Odin will snap her back just as he did a second ago.
Thinking that, I shout desperatly and run as fast as I can towards my younger sister.
However, she's still several steps beyond my reach---...!
Odin: Gun-
Sayuki: Na?!
Reiji: A lightning bolt?!
Just as Odin's fist starts to move forward, a flash of lightning stops it.
Ryuichi: ------
Odin: ...Ryuichi.
I know the identity of that lightning well...It's Ryuichi.
Ryuichi: Get out of here, Reiji. Take the two of them with you...Now!
Reiji: You ***! You can't challenge this monster alone, that would be suici-
Ryuichi: Reiji.
Reiji: ...Ryuichi...You---
I start to warn Ryuichi again, but I fall silent.
Ryuichi's tone has a certain firmness to it that forces me to.
Ryuichi: This person...I will defeat him.
Ryuichi: No...I HAVE to bring him down!
Ryuichi keeps his eyes squarely on Odin as he says so.
This atmosphere...Suddenly, I feel something.
Every word that Ryuichi has spoken has carried some unknown weight behind them, as if he were struggling to form them.
Judging from that tone and the way Ryuichi continues to look at Odin, there's only one conclusion that can be derived from that...
Reiji: Ryuichi...don't tell me that you know him? This guy.
Ryuichi: ...Yeah.
Ryuichi: To think that he was Odin...I didn't want to believe it. I desperately tried to deny it. However...
Ryuichi: Why is this the truth? You...Was this the kind of world you were aiming for all along?!
Odin: ......
Ryuichi: Answer me...Stepfather! No, Odin!!
Reiji: NA---?!
Sayuki: Stepfather...?!
Sakura: Then that means that Ryuichi-kun's stepfather...is really Odin...?!
Ryuichi: ...
Ryuichi's eyes fail to belie his silence, and they answer Sakura's question.
Hostility mixes with more complex emotions, and they pour out of his eyes.
Ryuichi: I already knew that my stepfather was a magi.
Ryuichi: But the stepfather I knew wasn't capable of generating this much magical pressure...!
Ryuichi: I should have felt your magical presence at least once since the time I returned to the island...
Odin: ......I know. That's why I purposely concealed my strength from you until now.
Odin: Ryuichi...I raised you so that you could eventually be the winner in this war.
Odin: However, you no longer serve that purpose. Although he's an Irregular...
I've found the perfect person to be the embodiment for my "ideal".
Reiji: ...!
Odin sharply his head and glances at me as he says so.
Ryuichi: I see. That means that from the beginning you never trusted me, stepfather...
Odin: That's not true. Ryuichi...You are too pure. You strive for your ideal because you are young, but it is a fleeting dream.
Odin: Although I was aware of it, you've always continued to resist reality, refusing to see it for what it truly is.
Odin: You will never be able to understand the world I desire.
Ryuichi: ...
As if lamenting his own failings as a teacher, Odin sighs with a slightly sad expression on his face.
It is as clear a look of disappointment if there ever was one.
He really did only raise Ryuichi with the intent on using him...That's what I feel, somehow.
Ryuichi: Reiji. I just want to make sure. My stepfather loved peace...This can't be what he truly wanted.
Ryuichi: If he's really made a mistake, I'll fix things with my own hands. That is my role as his son.
Reiji: Ryuichi...
His gaze pierces through me, and I see no lie in his eyes.
Reiji: Yeah, I've got it. In that case, you better not die on me.
In the face of his unshakable resolve...I nod at his honest feelings.
Ryuichi: Yeah. I know that he's dangerous. But I won't lose so easily.
Reiji: Shut up. ...Sakura, Sayuki!
Sakura: Nn...!
Sayuki: Hold on, you two!
Reiji: (At this rate though, he'll definitely lose...Don't let it end like this!)
Clenching my teeth at my own powerlessness, I pray for my bad friend's safety as I leave the battlefield behind.