"It's okay. It's always been this way. Really, it's okay."
Click—
Fujimaru Ritsuka said nothing. She silently loaded a gemstone into her hand cannon, never taking her eyes off Gerda.
A few tears still clung to the corners of Gerda's eyes.
Was it really okay?
Fujimaru Ritsuka did not say a word, but every question Gerda had was written in her eyes.
—She couldn't bear it.
Two streams of tears ran down Gerda's cheeks.
"It's just a little scary. Just... a tiny bit. That's all."
She still lowered her head.
"As long as they get crushed, everything will be fine."
"How could it possibly be fine?"
Fujimaru Ritsuka placed a hand on Gerda's head.
"No matter who they are, I won't let them die. And I don't want them to die."
"...Why?"
"Because that was decided a long, long time ago."
Gerda looked up in confusion at the big sister who claimed she was not an Envoy.
"We're the kind of people who make a habit of overturning rules. So we won't give up on anyone."
Smiling, Fujimaru Ritsuka vigorously ruffled Gerda's blond hair twice.
"Rules may be necessary for humanity, who inherently seeks freedom. But—humanity, who seeks freedom, absolutely does not need the rules of this Lostbelt!"
"Roar—"
Norla tried to open his mouth in response to Fujimaru Ritsuka, but what erupted from him was a beastlike roar.
"Mr. Norla!"
Mash, standing beside Norla, jumped in fright and hurried over, looking at him worriedly.
"I—I'm fine, Mash!"
Wiping the corner of his mouth with his monstrous claw, Norla forced a smile.
"There are still so many guards of gods like that bastard here. I'm not going down before we win."
Though those words came from the mouth of a ten-year-old child, their sincerity and fury were deafening.
"Yeah!"
*BOOM