Part 104: This is the last thing I'll ever ask you to do.

Oh...
Its color changed...









H-How did we get here?!
This is where we fought the Schwarzritter...

This is a place I made with his input for saying farewell.

Heh. I'm glad it ended up proving to be useful.

-Aster House-



Oh...
R-Rufina...
Back in your old knight getup, huh? You're finally free of the Stigma's influence, then?



You deserve a lot of praise for overcoming so much on your way here. You knew what you were up against. You could have given up at any time...but you never did.
Heehee. I'm so proud of you. ♪
Rufina...
...Haha. You really are just like I remember.
So...is the Stigma completely gone?
I'm afraid not... It still exists inside of me.
Your victory earlier has allowed me to suppress it for the time being...
...but I won't be able to do so indefinitely. It'll recover its power before long if it isn't completely destroyed.
Oh...
B-But how do we...?
I'm afraid someone is going to have to destroy it.
I want that someone to be you, Kevin.
Hey...
You can't mean you'll have him kill you!
That's right. By killing me, the copy of your Stigma will be destroyed as well.
That's the only way to get rid of it for good and bring all of this to an end.
Doing so should restore Celeste's power. After that, I believe she should be able to return all of you safely to the real world.
B-But... But...!
Let me just make sure...
There's no other option, is there?
None. This is truly the only way.
Last time you had to do this, you were barely aware of what you were doing. This time, you won't have such a luxury.
...
How could you ask that of him?! How could you make him do that again knowing how much he suffered the first time?!
And if he does that, you'll...you'll...
I'm sorry, Ries.
But this is the reality, and I need to be the one to tell him.
I'll say it once more, Kevin. Kill me, and go back to the real world with your friends.
As your sister, as a fellow knight, and as a mother...
...this is the last thing I'll ever ask you to do.
...
...Haha...
It's amazing how someone can be so kind and yet so cruel at the same time.
But that's how you've always been, I guess...



No, Kevin!
Sorry, Ries...
I'm gonna have to take your sister from you not once, but twice...
I-If that's what you've got to do...
...then I'm doing it with you!
What...?!
...Ries?
I-I don't want to be left behind by you two any more! I don't want to just stand aside and watch anymore! I've had enough of just waiting!
So if this is something that has to be done... then I'm going to do it with you! I'm going to carry your sin with you this time!
...Thanks, Ries.
Heehee. It's hard to believe you're the same little glutton from five years ago.
You've grown so much while I've been away.
You ended up studying under Ein, too, right? I apparently have plenty to thank her for.
R-Rufina, please...
Well, if you're sure that's what you want to do, I have no objections.
I'll leave the decision to you, Kevin.
How can you be okay with this?!
I should be the one shouldering the burden! Me, and me alone! Why should Ries--
You're a grown man, Kevin! Start acting like one, damn it!
...Is probably what Ein would say in this situation were she with us.
She's not, though. So I want you to go with your heart.
Ha...haha...
Haha... You've always had a way with shaking a guy up.
...



Come here, Ries. You can hold my bowgun with me.
...Okay!



Oh... I never considered that. Apparently, I was even further from my goal than I thought I was...
Sorry...?
What do you mean?
Listen, Kevin... You said earlier that you wanted to try and follow in my footsteps, right?
Y-Yeah... It's not going to be easy, but it's what I want to do.
Well, if that's genuinely what you've set your mind on, I can't stop you...but I can't say that I recommend it.
The path I walked was one fraught with pain, doubts, and worries... I knew in my heart that there was no way it was possible to make a world where everyone could be happy.
Nevertheless, I dedicated my life to trying to get as close as I could to that impossible goal--even if it wasn't easy.
Bring it on, I say.
I feel the same way.
I want to follow in your footsteps, too.
Ha... I've never seen two people look more sure of themselves.
...And if that's what you want...
If that's really, really what you want, don't content yourselves with trying to go as far as I did. Go further than me; try and reach the places beyond my grasp. Realize the future I never could.
Because I get the feeling the two of you may actually be able to do it.
You do...?
Haha... Damn. That's a doozy of a task you're throwin' on us at the last minute.
But hey, I won't say no. Making it sound so hard just makes me want to pull it off all the more.
I promise I will.
Just don't try to walk too fast and end up getting tired before the finish line.
...Anyway, I think we've kept your friends waiting for long enough.
Kevin, Ries...I think it's about time you pulled that trigger.
...Yeah...
...Right...



...
It's okay, Ries. I'm right here with you.
Let's just take this slowly... That's right. Easy does it...
Teehee... May Aidios always watch over you both.
Take care of her for me, Kevin.
...I will. Always.
Thanks for everything... Really...
R-Rufina, I...I...
And you take good care of Kevin, Ries.
Stay close, okay?
R-Rufina...
We will! Forever! So...
Bye...Rufina...











...Ah...









It's okay, Ries...



I'm sure we can do it... I'm sure we can realize her dream and reach the place she was always trying to get to...
And I'm guessing that when we do, we'll find her there waiting for us... So this isn't the end...
We'll see her again... We will...
*sob*
Waaaaaah!