"Good. Very good."
The White Snake Sage excitedly took another puff of smoke, then produced a scroll from somewhere.
The scroll dropped down, landing right in front of Hayashi, who knelt below on one knee.
"You know what to do."
"Bite your thumb and press your blood onto it. Then your contract will be complete."
"Yes, White Snake Sage."
Without hesitation, Hayashi bit his thumb, then flung the scroll open.
But in the next instant...
An endless gale of blue-green wind swept the scroll up and carried it into the air.
At last, the scroll landed safely in Tagorihime's hand.
"Lord Hayashi..."
Tagorihime said nothing else.
She simply stared straight at Uzumaki Hayashi, her gaze almost sorrowful.
"Tagorihime."
Uzumaki Hayashi rose to his feet and fixed Tagorihime with an unyielding stare.
"Just as you said earlier."
"You came here intending to kill me, to prove your resolve."
The familiar ice-forged tachi suddenly appeared in Hayashi's hand!
But this time, the ice blade's edge wasn't pointed at anyone else.
Instead, it faced straight toward Uzumaki Hayashi's own neck!
"My sage!"
Standing behind Hayashi, Tagitsuhime erupted with a scarlet aura and reached out to stop the ice blade in his hand.
But she was a moment too late.
Hayashi had already laid the gleaming ice blade beside his shoulder.
One light stroke would be enough to slice open the red-haired sage's main artery.
And let him die quietly here.
"I told you, I have my own resolve."
"And that is to let everyone find happiness!"
"If my life is the sacrifice it takes!"
"Then I will gladly give it!"
"Don't try to stop me, Tagorihime, Tagitsuhime."
"You can still stand beside me, of course. But this is my wish, too!"
With those words, Hayashi slowly pressed the ice-forged tachi toward his neck.