Chapter 578 - 568 I didn’t really do anything special

"I don't want you to die either. Thanks to you, I get to be like this with Shiro-neko. I'm truly grateful."

"I didn't really do anything special. The ones who worked hard were you and Koneko, right?"

"Nyahaha, maybe so!"

"Anesama, you're getting too carried away."

Yeah, exactly.

You two sisters have a whole future ahead of you.

I'm not about to let you vanish in a place like this.

Kiba spoke up.

"Issei-kun, there are still so many things I want you to teach me. I'm going to keep chasing your back, you know?"

"Knowing you, you'd probably overtake me at Mach speed."

Kiba, you've already overcome your past.

From here on out, you're going to get even stronger.

Though I don't plan on letting you leave me in the dust just yet!

Vali chimed in.

"Hyoudou Issei. You haven't forgotten our promise to go eat ramen together, have you?"

"Promises are meant to be kept. You better keep your stomach empty for it!"

Vali gave a light, rare smile at my teasing.

"I have a challenge pending with you as well. Don't you dare die here, Hyoudou Issei?"

"That goes for me too. You understand, don't you, Hyoudou Issei?"

"Hey, hey, just how many challenges does Hyoudou have lined up? But still, I'm gonna surpass you someday too!"

"Hmph, ordinary training won't ever let you catch up to that guy, Saji Genshirou?"

Cao Cao, Sairaorg-san, Saji, and Riser—all the guys itching to pick a fight with me!

Why the hell am I constantly surrounded by passionate stares from men?!

Cut it out, you guys!

Stop looking at me with those burning eyes!

Well, even so—

"Agh, fine, I get it! I haven't forgotten, and I accept all your challenges! Come at me whenever you want!"

I shouted in half-desperation!

Seriously, every last one of them!

Though... maybe this kind of bickering among guys wasn't so bad after all!

Miu, who was supporting my body, let out an amused giggle.

"As expected, big brother is super popular. Everything you've built up until now is right here, you see?"

Everything I've built up until now, huh.

Family, comrades, rivals, mentors—and even people who started out as enemies.

Seeing everyone who had ever crossed paths with me gathered like this, I figured she wasn't wrong at all.

Closing my eyes, I could even hear the voices of those who weren't physically here—

―――――Issei, make sure you come back!

―――――You promised, remember? That you'd come back to this house!

Dad and Mom's voices.

―――――Big brother! Even if I can't fight, my heart is right there with you!

―――――My will is with Issei.

Nina and Ophis's voices.

―――――Mr. Devil! Do your best, nyo!

Miltan!

Come to think of it, Miltan was fighting too!

Just how absurdly wide is this circle of mine?!

There are too many things to tsukkomi about!

Still, thanks!

Other voices from the people of Kuoh Town reached me as well...

Ah, so it reached those bad-influence friends of mine, too.

Got it, next time we hang out, I'll let you guys talk my ear off.

Since I've kept you in the dark this long, dinner's on me!

Blood trickled from the corner of my mouth, but I flashed a sharp, fierce grin.

And once again, I thrust my arm forward.

In place of my right arm, which had already turned to particles and completely vanished, Miu reached her hand forward alongside me.

"Let's go, big brother… Issei."

"Yeah… Miu."

"What is it?"

"―――――I love you. I love you all!"

"Yeah!"

From the palms of our extended hands, rainbow light erupted with a force like never before.

The rainbow spanning the world linked everyone together, transforming everyone's wishes and feelings into pure power!

With this… can we do it, Excelia?!

"Yes, you have truly linked them all. Now, use it! My everything! Along with all of them!"

Excelia's power blazed with a blinding brilliance!

And then, I shouted out toward everyone!

"Here we go, everyoneeeeeee!"

"Let's goooooooooooooooo!"

Answering my voice, everyone's shouts merged into a single roar!

The rainbow light swallowed Asem's attack and instantly erased it into nothingness!

The rainbow pillar shooting into the sky cracked space itself, shattered dimensions, and pierced far beyond into the infinite distance.

The world filled with a rainbow-colored, warm, enveloping light—

Robbed of his sea of searing heat, Asem had no defense left and was swallowed by the rainbow.

No, saying he had no defense wasn't quite right.

Nor was it accurate to say he had given up.

The moment the sea of heat was breached, Asem lowered his hands of his own accord.

As if to say that it was already enough.

Engulfed in the rainbow, Asem spoke softly:

"I suppose… I lost."

"...…Did the voice you wanted to hear finally reach you?"

"Yes… it reached me. More than enough."

Asem's body began to crumble away.

Whether due to the rainbow's power or because his body had reached its absolute limit.

Perhaps because he had diverted even his regenerative power into his final attack, there was no sign of his form restoring itself.

"I wanted everyone to understand, you see. The possibilities of the world. That any absurdity can always be overcome. That no matter what despair surrounds you, hope exists. But... you can't do it alone. The feelings of everyone must truly become one—"

Asem continued:

"People say that making the world one is impossible. But I don't think so. Everyone just overcomplicates things; the world is actually quite simple."

Asem chuckled softly.

Then, in a fading, broken voice, he said:

"Still, with this, everyone… I'm sure there are still plenty of problems left. Even so, the light engraved in everyone's hearts will surely, someday—"

As his body faded away, Asem formed a hand-seal near his chest.

Instantly, glowing patterns emerged across his body.

Those patterns flared with a white radiance, constructed a massive magic circle, rose into the sky, and vanished.

Watching that sight, I realized what he had done.

"You… you meant to do that from the very beginning…"

"Hehehe… well, let's just say it's a tiny bit of atonement. But that's not all. I told you before, didn't I? Without pain, the world cannot change. But… pain alone isn't enough to truly change the world in a meaningful way. That is why…"

Most of his body was already gone.

A few more moments, and he would disappear completely.

Asem whispered:

"I made… far too many mistakes."

"Yeah. I still can't forgive your methods. But your feelings were real. All you wished for was—"

"...…Just one last thing, may I?"

"What is it?"

As I asked back, Asem spoke in a voice that was fading out, yet reached me clearly.

"I'll leave the rest in your hands, alright?"

The eyes of Asem as he said those words looked remarkably like those of the people who had entrusted their wills to me in the past.

Light and Sirius.

They held the exact same gaze as the great hero and demon king who had wished for a peaceful future for the world.

I brushed away the tears that suddenly welled up in my eyes and gave him a single, firm reply.

"Yeah… leave it to me!"

At my answer, Asem smiled with deep satisfaction—

"Thank you, Hyoudou Issei."

And just like that, the gentle evil god vanished.

Beyond the rainbow horizon—

[Miu Side]

After the rainbow brilliance faded and everything had come to an end.

"It's over, big brother."

"...… obat" (T/N: muffled/unresponsive)

"Big… brother?"

At first, I didn't realize.

At that moment, big brother was already—

[Miu Side Out]

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