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Sophie, perhaps unable to handle the painful silence and anticipation, turned to me and asked.

"What? Of course it\'s a trap."

I responded by stating the obvious.

"...Huh? Are you crazy?"

"By walking into their trap like this, they will drop their guard and come at us without realising that by doing so they have only fallen into and triggered my own trap."

"Of course you are..."

Evidently too tired to bother arguing, she lamentably accepted my words and continued to wait with her hands warming her pockets.

I stood in the middle of a completely vacant Weinstell Park―ordinarily, a peace- and people-ridden place. Myself, Sophie, the twins, Tarou and Selina were all present.

Approaching the latter, who had her hands subconsciously clasped together with high tensions, I opened my mouth.

"There is nothing to be worried about. As per our contract, I will ensure your safety no matter what."

"...Thank you... To be honest, I\'m more worried for everyone else than myself... I-I also... I don\'t want to fight... I don\'t want anyone to fight..."

"..."

Unfortunately, during the past two weeks, I was still unable to fully correct her attitude towards conflict. She appeared to have gotten somewhat used to seeing blood after forcing her to heal me every time, but there was still a long way to go.

Still, she could heal with great effectiveness; I had no choice but to bring her with me today for that ability alone.

The Measurement of Life.

The true identity of Selina\'s Concept was this.

As such, what she held could never be weak.

Despite being unable to utilise even half of her power, it was still more than enough as long as she could heal when necessary.

"It\'s been a while since we last took a walk through here, right?"

"Yes..."

The lush grass and magnificent flowers around her exuded just as much vitality as they did back then, but the air she currently bore was not one to match.

"Listen. Fighting is inevitable when parties of two conflicting interests clash. They want to incarcerate me, but I don\'t want to be stuck in that place again. There is no consensus we can come to nor a deal that would satisfy both sides."

"..."

"However, nobody will get hurt; that\'s why you\'re here. These guys are all strong enough to protect themselves, but in the unlikely event of something occurring, you are here to be able to help them. There is no need for you to fight directly; your presence alone is enough support. You can do that, can\'t you? You\'ve already adapted to witnessing me bleed, so what\'s the difference with these guys? I know you can do it, so don\'t look so down."

"Right... I\'m sorry. Thank you, Cipher. I\'ll... I promise I\'ll try my best to help."

Seeing a small smile arise on her face, I mimicked her and placed a hand softly on her head.

"Good. That\'s more like it. Now, make sure you stand behind everyone."

"Yes."

Turning away, I immediately erased the false smile on my face.

\'I promise\'.

\'I\'ll try my best to help\'.

Words were just words and I knew that more than anyone. Anyone could say they\'ll do anything, but it all amounts to nothing unless they actually follow through.

Thus, I decided to just let her actions speak.

If she gets cold feet halfway through, I might have to resort to more... Unsavoury methods, but I\'ll make sure she does what I brought her here for either way.

Checking my smartphone, the hour on the clock soon changed to 12. Noon had arrived, and alongside it, the first signs of movement could be spotted at the park entrance in the distance.

Crack-!

Rippp-!

A tear in space opening just ten metres ahead of us was not entirely unexpected, leading to Saburou being the first one to appear. Glancing at us, his expression twisted and he snarled.

"...You\'re a fucking sicko, Truth. Corrupting children and making them do your dirty work; how despicable can you be?"

Evidently appearing alone, the tear he opened quickly repaired itself and vanished. Watching him silently as he glared at us, I noticed others making their way over.

There were three people, and the first two were to be expected.

"Avon Laura. My, it\'s been a while."

"...You."

The snow-haired prophet of the north loured. It was understandable considering our past conflicts, but what a shame.

I recalled the first time we met in the Aurigan Arena; the time I mercifully spared her in hopes of discovering more about the incident on that day. Alas, it never resulted in anything useful.

Was that time already six months ago? How time flies.

Beside her was Kiryuuin, who looked at not just me, but everyone around me with a solemn gaze that seemed to have become his \'new thing\'.

And then, there was the third person... Perhaps the last person I would expect to show up here.

"...Araceli Arévalo."

The purple-eyed, golden-haired princess of the wealthy Arévalo family.

"Hello again, Truthseeker."

"..."

A name she shouldn\'t know came out of her mouth, but it wasn\'t particularly surprising. The last time we faced, wasn\'t it during the birthday party? I learnt a lot about the Forbidden Knowledge thanks to that, but what the hell was she doing here?

The answer came to me quickly enough.

「She wishes to help you」

A rarity―her intentions were not obscured with the sinister drape of Forbidden Knowledge.

But it didn\'t help.

Truth had spoken, so it must be real, yet I had a hard time believing it just like that.

"..."

I eyed her suspiciously, but her mirrored gaze contained something utterly unknowable within them and returned nothing but more questions my way.

Being someone who only raised concerns in me, she was not a person I was pleased to see. Nonetheless, her power was the Measurement of Protection, so I likely wouldn\'t be able to get rid of her no matter whose flag she bore.

Directing glances at the surroundings once more, it appeared the Warden\'s other forces had encircled the entire park to prevent any unintended civilian interactions.

Or perhaps, to hinder our escape.

Though, I was never intending on that in the first place.

And then, a couple more people in the Wardens\' uniform came our way. According to the Measurement of Truth, they were backup combat units here to assist the main force, the Concept trio, should they find themselves in trouble.

Well, that\'s fine.

My people are stronger than small fry like those, anyway.

"Cipher." At that moment, Kiryuuin called me. I could already guess what idiotic words were about to exit his mouth.

I never questioned why he started calling me by my given name all of a sudden.

It was obvious the Wardens had my identity on record since it was they who kept me in captivity for so long, but I had never asked why this guy began using it with me.

Usually, with these guys, it\'s always \'Truth\'.

Because they identify me with the Concept I represent.

So, why does he use \'Cipher\' now? Did dying by my hands make him feel closer to me or something?

「Yes」

"..."

「You do not have access to that information」

Asking a follow-up question of \'why\' returned me such an answer.

...Well. It wasn\'t something necessary to know either way. But still, it made me consider it seriously.

I wondered.

When \'time\' evolves, that indescribable process, what does it metamorphose into?

I felt like today was the day I would find that out.

"Please. This is your last chance. Will you reconsider?"

There was no need for me to answer such an obtuse thing; it should\'ve been obvious to anyone with a train of thought, even if it was stationary.

"Hey, Kiryuuin..."

Placing my hand on the right side of my belt, I slowly took hold of my classic MkIV. Raising it, I pointed the mouth of the barrel at his unflinching face.

"―If I kill you a second time, will you come back again?"

"..."

His expression darkened. It seems he finally got the hint.

Something told me.

The evolution of Time.

No matter what came of it, the result was bound to be powerful.

If he couldn\'t rewind time before, then even just by examining the circumstances surrounding his previous death, it was evident he now had such an ability one way or another.

Something told me the answer to my question was \'yes\'.

It came under Forbidden Knowledge, but it wasn\'t something difficult to assume.

Since yesterday\'s "final plea", I had done some serious thinking.

With all the drastic changes that guy has gone through since I killed him; his weird attitude and the way he looks at me and calls my name. And then, taking his evolved Measurement of Time into further consideration.

Like that, after much contemplation, something hit me.

I doubted it at first; I mocked the idea at a glance and discarded it without hesitation, but now, I\'m beginning to reconsider.

"...Kiryuuin."

A peculiar notion; one that shouldn\'t exist, yet bizarrely feels to fit the most.

"Answer me something."

"...?"

Somehow, having the words crawl up my throat like this, I felt a powerful sense of invisible pressure begin to build up.

It was a reality the Measurement of Truth wasn\'t allowed to show me.

Staring at him, I asked.

"How many times have I really killed you?"

At that moment, his eyes widened.