The sight of Erina being blown away and the rain of light that followed that made Kaito stop in his tracks, but he started running towards the cemetery so as not to waste Erina and the others' thoughts.
He must have thought that it was his chance since the giant dragon's gaze wasn't turned towards him. However, when Kaito approached the cemetery, the giant dragon immediately moved its head and changed its aim towards Kaito.
Yes, the giant dragon doesn't operate with complex thoughts. It attacks those who try to get close to the cemetery as its highest priority. Therefore, it didn't pay attention to Erina's chance, and instead, started attacking the closest person to the cemetery, Kaito.
Kaito is running as fast as he can, but the difference in size is obvious... and if the giant dragon just takes a few steps, it would quickly reach Kaito. Making use of its speed, the giant dragon quickly tried to block Kaito's path.
But all of a sudden... both of its legs, the key to the dragon's mobility, "was frozen".
[Wha!?]
Kaito, who was watching the scene with the corner of her eyes, also stopped in his tracks. After all, it was very similar to the magic used by someone Kaito knew well.
In front of Kaito's gaze, two flashes of light cut through the giant dragon's legs. One of them was a blonde woman holding a large sword, while the other was a red-haired woman holding two swords.
[...Lilia-san? Sieg-san? No... They're different.]
Yes, the people who appeared were Kaito's senpais in this virtual world, Ririka and Liddy, not his lovers in the original world, Lilia and Sieglinde.
However, it was no wonder that Kaito couldn't help himself from muttering this. The weapons in their hand and seeing their reliable backs... they were too much alike. Even their strengths...
With both of its legs torn off, the giant dragon was about to lose its stance, but it immediately spread its huge wings and tried to escape to the sky. The next moment, however, its wings were cut off from its roots... with the daggers held on Alyssa's hand.
[What... in the world————–!?]
Even though the giant dragon had its legs cut off and lost its wings, it didn't seem to feel any pain as it still shot fireballs towards Kaito. It was a fireball that Kaito definitely couldn't avoid, but immediately afterwards, a wind appeared a little in front of Kaito, and just like a movie played in reverse, the fireball returned back to the dragon and exploded right on its face.
As the giant dragon was knocked back by the fireball, before one knew it, Erina appeared right below it and as if to launch the dragon up to the air, she slammed her fist below the dragon's head.
Thereupon, the dragon's gigantic body measuring around several hundred meters tall, was launched high into the sky.
After that, the five people who had been separated became light again and were sucked into Erina's body... and clad in rainbow-colored light, Erina aimed one of her handguns at the giant dragon flying in the sky.
Firing a rainbow bullet... leaving a wing-like trajectory behind as it ascended to the skies, it pierced the body of the giant dragon... vanquishing it with the rainbow light.
I didn't know exactly what had happened, but the only thing I did know... was that Erina had defeated the dragon.
After Erina defeated the dragon in the blink of an eye, Erina walked towards me... and divided into six people again.
[Well~~ The real me is quite outrageous, isn't she? Just by borrowing a small part of her power, I've become that strong.]
Hearing what Alyssa said made me finally understand what had just happened. That light that was pouring down from the sky before... it was probably Kuro and the others lending their power to Erina and the others.
I'm really grateful to them... How should I say this... I feel like I'm about to burst into tears. Knowing that there are people who care about you and are there to help you... how should I say this... It really makes me feel happy.
As I was feeling warm and fuzzy thinking about this, I noticed something strange soon after.
[...Everyone... Those... lights are...]
Fine particles of light were coming out of the six's bodies, and at the same time, their bodies seemed to be getting thinner and thinner.
[...It seems that our role here is finished. From here on out is your battle, Kaito-kun.]
[...I see... So that's how it's going to be... Thanks, everyone.]
They are the inhabitants of the virtual world, and according to Alyssa, they are Ally Characters, created to help me. The fact that their role is over... means that there's no one who would stop me from reaching the cemetery anymore.
And that also means... This is where I part ways with the girls.
[...Kaito-kun. When you get back to the real world, tell the real me... "Thanks. Thanks to you, I was able to protect someone important to me".]
[...Erina.]
Telling me this with a gentle smile, the girl next-door who was like a sister to me... Kurosu Erina.
[...I'd also like you... to tell the real me... to continue... to be on good terms... with Kaito.]
[...Iris-san.]
Telling me this with an ephemeral smile, the exchange student classmate who I'm good friends with... Iris Leavitt.
[Me too. It's not my place to tell her this, but she needs to keep slacking moderately, okay~~]
[...Fae-san.]
Telling me this with a relaxed tone even at a time like this, my friend since senior high and Alyssa's best friend... Murakumo Fae.
[Please tell the real me this. "Don't let your shyness control your actions, you also need to be proactive and make your approach once in a while".]
[...Riri-senpai.]
Telling me this with a wry smile, my kind, reliable, but also somewhat of a scatterbrain senpai... Saigyouji Ririka.
[Well then, I guess me too... "I hope that you and Kaito-san take care of yourselves and stay healthy forever.]
[...Liddy-senpai.]
Telling me this with an affectionate smile, the homely senpai who always takes care of me... Liddy Quanette.
[...Then, I guess I'm the last huh... It might be too common to ask this... but please tell her... to get along... with Kaito-san.]
[Alyssa?]
Following the other five, Alyssa tried to tell me her message to the original world's Alice, but in the middle of her words, I could see large tears dripping from her eyes.
[...Ahh, geez. I'm all tensed up even though this is the end. Even though... I've always been holding back...]
[...….]
[So that's how it is... In the end, I had always been destined... to be heartbroken all along huh... This is depressing.]
With tears leaking down her face, I couldn't say anything. No, I felt that I shouldn't say anything just yet.
That's why, I waited for her next words. In order not to overlook even a single word of what Alyssa would say.
After keeping her face down for a little while, Alyssa raised her head, and even as tears leaked down her eyes, she smiled.
[...Kaito-san.... Ever since senior high, "I've always loved you"... Perhaps, these feelings of mine are just as fake as this world. It may be a fake love that would naturally disappear along with this world. But even if that's so... The me that fell in love with you certainly existed. That's why, if you could just... remember this woman who told you these words... even if it's just for a little bit... I would be happy.]
[...I won't forget it... I will not forget about you... I will never forget Mamonaka Alyssa.]
I found myself hugging Alyssa's body tightly. I strongly swore to myself that I would never forget the girl who was definitely existed right now...
[...Thank you. It might be a short time, but the time I spent with Kaito-san... has filled me with happiness.]
[!?]
With those words, Alyssa's body turned into particles of light and disappeared... and the feeling held within my arms vanished. The other five also seemed to disappear at the same time... and there was no one around me anymore.
Feeling as if some kind of heat was rising up from within me, I burst into tears.
One... two... Tears fell down to the ground, and I felt like crying my eyes out in this place. However, I can't do that. I can't stop here just yet.
Wiping these tears with the sleeve of my clothes, I slowly walked towards the cemetery.
A lot of people helped me to arrive in this cemetery... and from here on out————— This is my own battle.