Final case: To you, my beloved heroine.

The demon queen refused the heroine's hand.

At that moment, a rift seemed to form between them, forever caging either from reaching the other side. Heeding the queen's call, Astaroth emerged from the darkness of the abyss, pulling his massive wings over his advent's unsteady body. The stronghold shook violently, pouring a fierce rumble toward the challengers.

Even then, Lyra only had her eyes on that person.

She witnessed as the blood moon's essence whirled around that delicate frame before forcing its entrance. Piece by piece, layer by layer, the queen's tattered dress regained its majesty, while its wearer's smeared blood evaporated into gusts that formed a pair of black wings. Those crimson jewels glowed intensely, glazed with seething crimson roots extending down her cheeks.

Once again, the crownbearer's blade gleamed a ferocious light.

When her figure descended, the world stood still. With that cold gaze, she grazed the hall impassively, as though a transcendent being looking down upon mortals. In her eyes reflected the trembling figures of those whom she treasured, though her expression betrayed no emotions.

Wordlessly, the queen pointed her sword at them.

A tap of her heel, and the battlefield was instantly reconstructed. The walls promptly receded as the glass ceiling disintegrated into specks of light, raining as if snowflakes. In the sky, the enlarged blood moon pressed down on the world impatiently, two slits of pupils streaked across its surface, pulsing.

Feeling the dreadful wind breezing through her hair, Lyra took a deep breath.

'If she's not backing down...'

The heroine exchanged firm glances with her teammates, then tightened the grip on her sword. In half a moment, the two sides continued their clash from before.

Fueled by the ancient demon's prowess, the queen became nearly untouchable. Her dominance was painted in strokes of swordsplay that possessed the power to split the world. Of the crimson magic that endlessly morphed in size and attributes, seeming formless. Surrounding her were stacks of magical shields to neutralize incoming attacks.

Her presence was akin to a fortress in the middle of the battlefield, even more so than at the beginning.

One after another, the eight challengers attempted to get closer to the queen, only to be intercepted by her overwhelming magic. The crimson sword weaved densely in the dusty air, repelling assailants and their efforts alike.

For dozens of minutes, the battlefield was lined with sparks of magic colliding, with the whistlings and explosions caused by forces ramming against one another. The conflict's impacts shook a vast area beyond ground zero, spreading widely toward the lesser battlefields below.

The siege against the demon queen proved to be a hard-fought one, and even then, it took the new hero party's utmost to even see a glimmer of hope. While the queen seemed invincible, there were still faint gaps opened thanks to her inexperience. After countless opportunities, they could finally grasp it.

''Jeanne!'' Mia, whose overwhelming magic nearly filled the sky, signaled to her partner.

At once, the dense rain of magic descended onto the demon queen's figure, overloading her defenses. Jeanne, packed with empowerment spells, swooped in amidst the aftermath, her blazing sword cleaving across the magical mist. With a roar, the former heroine brought her blade forward, hurling its tip toward the succubus's slender waist.

''Ugh...!''

Unable to react in time, the queen had her abdomen pierced, the blaze consuming her flesh hungrily. Enraged, the crimson sword's weight soon fell onto Jeanne, forcing her to retreat.

''Hah... hah...''

The demon queen stood still, hands clutching her open wound. The marks on her flesh pulsed greedily, fueling the energy to repair her body. Yet, her weakened state was immediately taken advantage of.

Lyra, with a visibly pained face, sprang toward the queen and swung her sword. Though somewhat non-lethal, her relentless pressing left the crownbearer on the defensive. As if to flee from the beast, those black wings finally flapped, bringing the duel to the sky.

The heroine continued to push and pursue her opponent high into the sky, drawing a streak of impacts along her path. Closer and closer, they approached the ever-gleaming blood moon.

The fierce clash stole the eyes below. Even Lyra herself was absorbed in the fight, drawing the brilliance in her swordplay out to the fullest. Against the clumsy handling of the weapon from her opponent, the heroine slowly built up an unstoppable momentum.

Yet, she wasn't looking at anything but those calm, frosty crimson eyes. A touch of bitterness was let out in her gaze. Lyra pressed forward, holding that spite, venting her frustration.

Piece by piece, the queen's defense was peeled off, until—

''...!''

An opening.

Before Lyra could realize it, her sword had pierced the other person's chest. Straight in the middle, punching to the other side.

The two figures abruptly stopped.

''N-No...''

The heroine could feel her own tremors. Through the coarse handle of her sword, the muddy sense of muscles splitting, of flesh ripping with each flinch, was conveyed perhaps too vividly.

Lyra felt sick all over.

Up close, she could discern the queen's weakening body falling onto her. Her heat, her breath, the metallic scent of blood. A touch of that warm liquid landed on her arm.

Instinctively, she wanted to retreat. Yet, a fragile hand grabbed her own, pulling her into an embrace.

''Cecilia...?''

''...''

Quietly, the world around them froze.

Lyra sensed those delicate fingers stroking the back of her head. Gently, calmly, and filled with warmth. When she finally came to face that person again, she saw her beloved Cecilia, touched by the backdrop of a magnificent moon hanging above.

''Don't blame yourself,'' Cecilia whispered, holding her usual kind expression while caressing the heroine's cheek, ''We may part here, and I probably won't stand by your side, but I'm sure you will be just fine. Because you're strong. Because you're my proud little sister. My beloved... heroine.''

''What are you saying...?!'' Tears welled at the corner of Lyra's eyes, ''I won't be fine! How can I be fine without you?! Don't you dare go away after coming into my life like this! Making me dependent on you... making me fall for you...''

Cecilia averted her moistened eyes, panting. Nonetheless, a bright smile tugged at her face right after. As she bid the heroine a final goodbye, kissing her forehead, a soft murmur escaped her lips, ''...This is the end for me, Lyra. I'm sorry I can't stay with you longer. I'll always wish for your happiness.''

Only then did Lyra see them—the countless crimson threads binding Cecilia's limbs, clenching her wings, all bridging toward the menacing entity in the sky. They hung her delicate frame as though a broken puppet, seizing her fate.

''...Farewell.'' Cecilia uttered, pushing Lyra away, still with a smile.

Lyra could see it with her eyes as she fell—the bright flashes radiating from Cecilia's demonic core—the rapid swelling of her energy, each of her accelerated, throbbing heartbeat.

At that very moment, Lyra clenched her fists. With everything she had, the heroine blazed toward that figure, brandishing her magic. Hundreds of blades weaved across the night sky, severing the threads that connected one being to another, so that in the end, a heroine could embrace her love for an eternity to come.

''Ly...ra...?''

''...Quiet.''

Almost too decisively, Lyra sealed Cecilia's lips. While stroking her blood-soaked, powerless back, the heroine then gently pulled out her sword and pointed it at the sky.

Cecilia felt her body losing strength, losing the power and grip of that ancient demon. Before the pain could settle in, a flow of healing magic poured in, mending her wounds. At last, she was freed from those shackles, freed from that curse for good. Yet, it also told her a very grim reality—the world was about to be faced with Astaroth's wrath.

''You idiot!'' Cecilia yelled, ''You—''

''I said quiet.''

Lyra pressed the woman firmly against herself, holding her tightly. Above, the blood moon had already undergone a grotesque transformation. Living, pulsing veins marred its surface, while a mouth-like structure had ripped itself across, venting its jaw full of sharp teeth.

[What a boring drama.]

The ancient demon's voice resonated.

[Did you think I hadn't noticed your plan, foolish child? Better thank your little heroine. At least you two can die together this way.]

A massive swirl of demonic power gathered at the mouth's vacuum, aiming straight at the two below. Knowing that Lyra had run out of mana from saving her, Cecilia perked up, her panicking gaze catching the heroine's attention.

''Lyra...'' She bit her lip.

A rare smile bloomed on Lyra's face, ''Don't worry. Leave the rest to us.''

As the demon's wrath descended, the two still held onto one another desperately, a speck inseparable amidst destruction. Cecilia's eyes at the heroine were full of despair, yet the expected doom never came. Even as the land below was razed helplessly, she found herself safe within steady arms.

A look back, Cecilia took in the silhouettes of whom she had been desperately trying to push away—Rachael, Penelope, and Kiara, whose resolute backs shielded her from harm. The three, covered in bruises and dust, still turned to Cecilia attentively, still looked at her warmly, still, they held her dearly.

''Protect her well.'' Lyra nodded, handing over Cecilia to Rachael before turning toward the sky.

''Wait!'' Cecilia protested.

Rachael, who held her lover in a princess carry, reassured, ''She'll be fine.''

''But...''

''She's not alone.'' Kiara interjected, ''Look.''

Penelope tidied up Cecilia's disheveled bang as the woman frantically scanned the scene below. What she witnessed was beyond what anyone could have imagined.

After Lyra's heroic lead, countless forces pursued toward the body of the ancient demon. The former hero party members chased close to the heroine, while those of the alliance followed behind. In the distance, fleets of airships poured toward the moon-shined land—a signature of the Visette Kingdom, led by its own adventurer princess, Yuria Visette.

Even from hundreds of meters away, those sharp eyes still spotted Cecilia instantly. When Yuria waved at her, she also waved back somewhat dazedly.

Though perhaps the most surprising of all was the presence of the Dracul clan, who refused the domination of Astaroth. United under Lilith's lead, they also sought to the sky, aiming to regain their own autonomy.

At once, countless rose toward the blood moon, as if a sea of stars straying through the rivers of the cosmos. And the brightest, most magnificent of them all... was her beloved heroine.

''...''

Cecilia felt something stuck in her throat.

Her emotions were jumbled, her thoughts scattered. Just blankly staring at the sky, at the battle that would soon go down in history.

''Cecilia.'' Rachael softly called, ''I love you.''

''...Huh?''

While caressing her lover's head, the princess spoke, ''I might not have said it enough—I love you. I... read the letters you wrote to me. You always say you wish me well, that you hope I find someone I could spend my life with... but I only ever love you, Cecilia. It has been so since the beginning, and it will stay as such for our remaining days in this world.''

Before Cecilia could give an answer, Penelope leaned in, forcing herself into her lover's vision, ''I also read what you wrote me. I was impressed, really—you sounded like a remorseful ex when we haven't even broken up. You did nothing wrong either. This I can swear with everything I have on the line: The only woman I will ever have is you. So, don't think I will give up on you.''

''Don't forget about me,'' Kiara shyly grasped Cecilia's hand, ''You congratulated me for gaining more confidence, but it was thanks to you, Cecilia. I'm forever grateful. And... the road forward that I'm willing to step into... has to be one where I can be with you. I really need you—I love you, Cecilia.''

Suddenly receiving three proposals, Cecilia's brain was on the verge of overheating. Yet, the feeling of being loved was as sweet as she remembered.

''...Can I really be with you guys?'' Her murmur sounded amidst the deafening chaos, ''Can I really... be happy? A nobody like me...''

For what felt like an eternity, Cecilia cowered in Rachael's arms, afraid of facing the truth. She hadn't always shone brightly like a star, nor was she ever popular. If she was able to help someone... then it was enough for her, even if it meant hurting herself.

One step away from the life she had looked up to, Cecilia still hesitated.

At that moment, she felt someone patting her head.

''Why not?''

''...Lyra.''

At some point, the heroine had came back. Though her appearance was far from pristine, her smile was radiant. Lyra planted her lips on Cecilia's forehead, musing, ''In the final letter, you wished me a path of flowers.''

—To my dear sister, Lyra, may flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day.

''You wished for my pain to be eased, for me to find love.''

—May the pain that you had ease with time, and may happiness find you as you find it. May your loved ones stay healthy so that you won't shed a tear, and may love bloom within you as it did for me.

''You said you loved me.''

—I love you, Lyra.

''You told me to forget you, so that I can be happy.''

—May you forget about this useless sister... so that even if I'm gone, you alone would remain happy.

''But without you, I can never be happy.'' The heroine said, ''Don't put yourself down like that. You're not a nobody. You're... my heroine. Of course you can be happy.''

Slowly, the massive body of Astaroth fell under the relentless efforts of those who had the will to rebel, as if to prove Lyra's words. Cecilia stared up at her for a long while, tears streaking down her reddened cheeks.

''So... will you be with us?'' Lyra extended her hand.

This time, without hesitation, Cecilia caught it, ''Yes...!''

—To my beloved heroine, Cecilia, may flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May you never have to shed a tear, and may happiness find you just as you find it. May your days on this planet be filled with laughter and joy. May your love blossom and mature in you just as it did for me. I love you, Cecilia. May you never stop loving yourself, so that you alone would remain happy.

Sincerely,

Lyra de Orleans.