"Finally… almost done killing. I'm exhausted."
Elias landed heavily from the sky, swaying for a moment as if he might not keep his balance.
Even he had lost count of how many people he'd killed today.
He'd started by tracking down several Fire Moth councilors based on Sakura's intel, killing them one by one. Afterward, he investigated the hiding places of the rest.
These infighting-obsessed schemers—five centuries of petty rivalries—had amassed plenty of dirt on each other. Elias used that to gain even more intel and continued the slaughter…
In the end, he destroyed several labs conducting illegal Meta-Morph experiments, executed over a thousand inhumane researchers, and eliminated roughly half of the Fire Moth councilors along with all their loyal subordinates.
He then had Mobius and Mei absorb the remnants of their power—keeping what was useful and eradicating any vile black-market operations.
By the end, Fire Moth was far cleaner than before.
As long as Elias remained, there would be no repeat of the original timeline—where, in the face of a great enemy, the councilors squandered their energy on internal strife and held humanity back.
"Eh~ Killing pests is satisfying, but once it's done… I feel kind of empty. No sense of achievement at all."
Inexplicably, he'd slipped into a strange sage-like mood—half tempted to light up a cigarette and ponder life.
"Elias—!"
"Captain—!"
Elysia and Sakura rushed toward him when they saw him, but froze at the sight of the crimson-stained youth.
Elias placed a hand over Elysia's face, stopping Miss Pink Elf from hugging him.
"Not this time, Ely."
"Elias… you've been killing people?"
"…Don't worry about it. Just some scum who deserved it. I'm going to take a shower before I dirty you both. Honestly, even I can't stand the smell anymore."
He pinched his nose.
He wasn't the type to get excited by the scent of blood. Compared to that metallic tang, he much preferred the fragrance of flowers, the aroma of food, and the scent of beautiful girls.
And he certainly wouldn't allow the filthy blood of such wretches to stain his beloved Ely.
"…."
Elysia's gaze lingered on his back, her heart heavy. Even if they were villains, she didn't want the boy she loved to bear the blood of fellow humans.
"Sakura, what was it like the first time you killed?"
"…Disgusting. Terrifying. No matter how much I threw up, I couldn't get rid of the fear in my gut. I didn't sleep well for months afterward. Elysia… wait, are you saying—"
"Mm. This was Elias' first time killing someone. He looks so tired… No, I have to go comfort him!"
Elysia didn't hesitate. She smiled and ran toward him, throwing herself into his arms despite the blood.
Sakura stood frozen.
"Captain Elias… was it your first time? Did you… do it for me?"
Her fists clenched. A wave of guilt washed over her.
Because of her, this man had stained his hands. How could she ever repay him? How could she make up for what she'd caused?
"…It seems I truly can't repay him. From now on, whatever mission Captain Elias gives me—I'll do it with everything I have. I'll be his blade. It's the only thing I can do."
Her hand tightened around the hilt at her waist.
Another sin added to the list she would have to atone for.
…
In the bathroom, Miss Pink Elf was particularly forward today.
Elias wasn't sure why Elysia was so eager, but when the pink-haired girl in a cute maid outfit offered to scrub his back… well, who was he to refuse such a pleasant sight?
Half an hour later—
"Ely, you may look great in a maid outfit, but you're not cut out to be a maid. You did well… but don't do it again."
"Uuuh… sorry~"
Elias sighed, feeling as if his skin had been rubbed raw. This pink elf truly had no idea what she was doing. He found himself missing his flawless personal maid, Rita.
If the two could somehow meet across 50,000 years, he'd make sure Rita taught Ely how to be the perfect maid.
"So, Elias… are you okay?"
"Hm? Why wouldn't I be?"
"…Nothing."
Elysia hesitated, unable to ask outright. She knew his personality—no matter what was on his mind, he'd never show it if it might make them worry.
Her heart ached. For someone as kind and gentle as him, killing fellow humans for the first time must have been hard.
On impulse, she stepped forward, wrapping his head in her arms like a giant, human-shaped pillow.
"Ely, what's wrong? If something's bothering you, tell me—I'll help—"
"Dummy Elias… try caring about yourself a little more."
Her voice was full of tenderness and helplessness. She stroked his white hair, now free of the scent of blood after the bath, replaced with a faint fragrance she loved.
Elias still didn't understand what she meant, but he enjoyed her warmth all the same.
"I'm fine, Ely. Don't worry about me."
"…How could I not?"
She murmured, unsure how to "heal" whatever wounds he might have inside—so she simply did what she could.
…
After experiencing the pink elf's heartfelt healing technique, Elias felt much better.
The truth was, while he didn't enjoy killing, it didn't wound him deeply either—he was perfectly capable of being decisive when needed.
Elias: (I have a heart of stone! No emotions!)
It was his first time in the Previous Era, but in the Current Era he'd killed many before.
Later, Sakura came to his room.
Elias got straight to the point.
"Sakura, I kept my promise—you and your sister are reunited. Now it's time for you to fulfill my request. No problem, right?"
"Yes. Please, give your orders!"
She spoke solemnly. If she'd had a sword-cane, she'd have used it right there to swear loyalty.
Truthfully, even though she was now free from the control of the councilors, she didn't feel unchained from her past.
Before, as part of Cocoon, she'd been ordered by the councilors to eliminate threats to the organization's interests.
She doubted the future would be much different.
For an assassin, a peaceful end was a luxury. All she could do was keep wielding her blade until it broke—or until her life was taken by an enemy.
But this time, it was of her own will.
Elias would never threaten her with Rin's safety. She would gladly give her all to him—because she owed him too much already.
And she believed that unlike those councilors, if she were to die someday, Elias would take good care of her sister.
Sakura: (If I die, I leave my sister in your care, and I will have no regrets!)
But then… Elias' request left her utterly stunned.
No matter what the request might have been, Sakura was ready to agree without hesitation. Whether Elias wanted her to be his sword, his shadow, or even to offer herself—it didn't matter.
But…
"From now on, you and your sister will live a happy life together. That's my request. Sakura, give me your sword and mask—you won't be needing them anymore."
He held out his hand, asking for the very symbols of her identity as the assassin Forget-Me-Not.
"Wh… what are you saying…?"
Sakura stared in stunned confusion.
Elias didn't want her as his weapon—he wanted to free her from the fate of a killer.
"You don't want to fight, do you? In that case, I'll arrange for you and Rin to live in a safe city. Start over together. Live well. It won't be easy—you'll have to work hard to make it happen."
With a smile, he took her mask and blade.
He knew she was a girl swept along by fate, longing for light but forced into darkness. She didn't want to fight or kill—she just wanted an ordinary life with her family.
And Elias would give it to her.
He knew this choice might mean the Thirteen Flame-Chasers of the future would lose one member—that the Flame-Chaser known as [Setsuna] would cease to exist.
But even so, he chose to break her chains and give her freedom.
(What's missing, I'll make up for. Being a Flame-Chaser can't compare to being a happy, ordinary girl. So, Sakura… go be one.)
He truly wished for every Flame-Chaser to find happiness—and that was why he had come to this era: to give them all a happy ending.
"I… can't. I don't deserve it…"
Her heart pounded wildly. She'd been ready to fight for him until her blade broke, but instead, he was setting her free.
Elias was offering her something she'd never dared dream of—and it left her completely shaken.
"You're right, Sakura—you don't deserve it…"
He nodded in agreement.
Even if it had been to protect her family, her hands were still stained with blood. In the end, she was more likely to go to hell than heaven. And yet—
"But now I'm giving you that right. Sakura, I allow you to have happiness. I allow you to have something beautiful."
His words were absolute, caring nothing for fairness or justice. He simply wanted this girl to be happy—and he would place that happiness in her hands himself.
In his mind, he was the savior of the world. His merit was boundless. He could shoulder her sins without a second thought.
Compared to the weight of what he had accomplished, her crimes were insignificant.
"…."
Her body trembled uncontrollably. Tears welled in her eyes. This man truly left her with no way to repay him.
She remembered what she had once thought during that meeting to plan Elias' downfall:
(Even a sun that can illuminate all things has places its light can't reach. Even a hero who saves countless lives wouldn't bother to save the rats in the sewers.)
But now she understood.
The sun was great because it even shone upon dust. A hero was great because he saved everyone he could.
"One last time… let me touch them."
Elias stepped closer, reaching up to stroke her pink fox ears—then, before she could react, the power of the Herrscher of Death activated.
Before her astonished eyes, her fox ears vanished.
"M-my ears… why…?"
"Sorry. I lied to you earlier. While they were indeed a side effect of the Meta-Morph surgery, I could have healed them anytime—I just kept them because I liked them."
"Captain Elias…"
"If you're going to live as an ordinary person, you need to look like one. It's a shame, but those ears would only get in the way. I'm leaving your fusion warrior abilities, though. You're a good girl, Sakura—I know you won't use that power for anything bad. And two sisters as beautiful as you and Rin need some way to defend yourselves."
He gently patted her head. The Yaksha Honkai Beast ears were gone—along with her blade, her mask, and her identity as an assassin.
And in their place, Elias had given her the right to live as an ordinary girl.
"Captain Elias, I… I…"
She couldn't even finish a sentence. Words failed to express what she felt.
Instead, she dropped to her knees before him, gripping the hem of his coat, tears streaming down her cheeks like a sinner given angelic salvation.
"Live well, Sakura. Leave the rest to me."
He entered his personal number into her terminal—a safeguard, a lifeline. He knew the future still held cruel trials for the sisters.
One of them being that the Herrscher of Corruption would be born using Rin as a vessel.
But Elias already had a plan to prevent it.
Giving her his number meant she could call him for help when the time came.
Sakura cried for a long, long time before she could stop. The strong elder sister who had always shouldered everything alone felt, for the first time, what it was like to be protected. Something special began to take root and grow quickly in her heart.
Afterward, Elias rewrote her records. Both her Cocoon past and her MANTIS status were erased. From that moment on, Forget-Me-Not was completely free.
…
In the sunset-lit streets—
Sakura and Rin walked toward their new home, each carrying a heavy bag, yet feeling lighter and freer than ever—reborn.
"Sis, you like Big Brother Elias, don't you?" Rin suddenly blurted.
"Rin, you—why would you say that? I don't—"
"Oh, come on, my dear sister, stop hiding it. You've looked back toward Fire Moth… no, toward Big Brother Elias thirty times already!"
Rin sighed. If I hadn't been holding her hand, she would've walked straight into a pole by now.
And that dazed, lovestruck look—exactly like the heroines in shoujo manga.
Stopping in her tracks, Rin moved behind Sakura and started pushing her back.
"Sis, go back!"
"Rin?"
"If you can't bear to leave him, then go find him! If you miss your chance with someone you love, you might never see them again. Come on, Sis—go for it! And I'm telling you now, I'll only ever accept Big Brother Elias as my brother-in-law!"