Tsubaki Kuruoka's Resolve

The Pale Rider's attacks grew fiercer, but every time, they fell just short.

That was exactly the effect I wanted: make it feel like it could hit me, yet never actually land a blow.

The reason was to keep it from switching into some bizarre mode. Fighting in physical form was the simplest.

If it transformed into bacteria and invaded someone's body or used some other strange ability, Sigma might die.

The mirror was not omnipotent. At the very least, I had never tried its ability to revive the dead, nor did I want to casually find someone to test it on. If it failed, they would have died for nothing.

An outsider would think I had been driven into a corner and could only dodge desperately.

An expert would know I was walking a dog—using footwork and positioning.

Naturally, the Pale Rider could not tell. It was still mindlessly trying to catch me, but time waited for no one.

Sigma was already having trouble breathing, and the woman in red, whose name I still did not know, was also on the verge of falling apart.

Perhaps the Holy Church group on the other side was struggling as well. There might even be casualties.

Using the Sword of Promised Victory might be able to cut through this barrier, but if nothing remained inside it, little Tsubaki might have a change of heart.

She might choose to remain here forever with the Pale Rider, and that was not what I wanted.

Fortunately, what I had been waiting for finally came. The Pale Rider suddenly stopped moving, and at the same time, Cerberus before the Holy Church also froze.

The Pale Rider's chest opened, and Tsubaki Kuruoka appeared within it.

Tsubaki Kuruoka's cheeks were clearly streaked with tears, but her gaze was