If I Ever Lost You

The temptation is far too strong.

Which is why this journey requires a will of iron.

One that will never bend, nor break, nor waver.

That is what you will need if you are to overcome the wall of resentment, and the remains of despair...

...to one day reach your journey's end.

That is what you will need for those you lost. What you will need to atone.

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Or, perhaps...

...you will need it for anger, and nothing more.

Queen Nitocris?

Pharaoh Nitocris. The ancient queen of the heavens. Herodotus describes her in great detail in his writings.

I'm especially fond of the account of how she took her revenge on the treacherous retainers who killed her brothers.

She's a true hero.

Indeed, she even reminds me of Boudica, the Queen of Victory from British legend.

I see.

I'm so sorry, Count. I'm not as well-read as Concetta.

No matter.

You and your sister may seem similar, but you are very different women.

Just as there are things only she can do, there are things only you can do.

Th-thank you, Count!

And you, Bertuccio.

Yes, my lord?

One could certainly call Nitocris a hero. But I cannot say whether her anger was a match for Boudica's.

She may have taken her vengeance...

...but some people are driven to act not out of burning passion or fiery vengeance, but out of kindness.

I see.

Then tell me, Count. What do you make of Spenser's "The Faerie Queene"?

I've never read it. All I know is that Elizabeth I held it in high regard.

Indeed she did. There is a lady knight in it by the name of Britomart who I believe is every bit as heroic as Boudica or Nitocris.

Even though traitors killed both her beloved husband and the king to whom she had sworn loyalty...

Hmm.

...rather than allow herself to be consumed by the fires of revenge, she decided to raise the child of fate she had with her husband.

Bertuccio!

You mustn't speak of such uncouth matters around the Cou

It's fine, Donatella. Sit down.

...Yes, my lord.

Tell me one thing, Bertuccio: Did love save this Britomart?

I believe so.

So you say she lived not for burning passion, fiery vengeance, or even to take action...

...but for love, and nothing more?

Yes, my lord.

How wonderful. So this lady knight kept the fires at bay with the power of love.

In that case!

Since I have neither love nor kindness, my own revenge will blaze as brightly as my fire!

Come, Bertuccio! Come, Donatella! I refuse to let anyone else take revenge on my quarry before me!

That includes my hated Danglars! The accursed Villefort!

The loathsome Morcerf! I, the Count of Monte Cristo, shall see them dead by my own hand.

...As you wish.

I am certain you will have your revenge, Count.

Of course I will. I refuse to let anyone stand in my way.

For every sweet drop of my sworn enemies' blood...

...is mine for the taking.

...Morning.

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Yeah.

...So, uh... Did you get any sleep?

What was that?

Even if you can't sleep, you've gotta at least try. I know stamina and magical energy aren't strictly the same thing, but still...

Yeah? That's good...

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... ...

...C'mon. Let's go to school.

Did you hear about Nitocris?

...Oh, right. How could you?

You don't have a phone, and I doubt Mr. Sal or Kagekiyo would contact you telepathically.

Anyway, it's about Nitocris. Alter, I mean. The one allied with us, not the enemy one.

It looks like her Spirit Origin's completely gone.

Same with the Dioscuri. I think they all went back to the Spirit Origin graph.

It sure looked like they disappeared, and it didn't seem like your shadow friend stepped in to help, either.

They were just...gone. Like Kagekiyo...

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... ...

...So, uh...

Oh, right. About your bodyguard detail.

We're planning to add another guard.

Mr. Sal's not much stronger than a human unless he goes all out. Consecutive all-nighters can't be easy on him either.

Plus, if he does go all out, he uses so much magical energy that he can't keep it going that long, anyway.

So, we're trying to make a deal with the new kid. Uh, Hassan. It's nice 'cause he can still use his spirit form.

If he agrees, then he'll help guard you tonight.

...You could at least nod or something.

Hm.

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So, plan C2.

You completely ignored me back there. Don't do it again.

Got it? I don't ever want to see you being that reckless again.

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...

Here. Stir-fried noodle roll and a fried cutlet sandwich.

Eat them at lunch.

Yeesh. When I agreed to be your bodyguard, I didn't figure delivering your meals would be part of the job.

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Yeah. That's right.

Now go on, eat up. And just so you know, I didn't buy those. They're from Himeko and Ricardo.

They said that girl always used to bring you lunch...

...so they figured you probably didn't bring anything for yourself.

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What was that?

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So what? Eat them anyway.

I can't have you dying on me already. I still haven't finished my evaluation.

You might be the last Master of humanity...

...but I'm not yet sure whether you're worthy of being entrusted with it.

So eat. And get some sleep. You look terrible.

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... ...

...This is Tokyo, right?

To me, it's just another Singularity. I'm guessing it's the same for you.

So let me make sure of something.

Is this actually your hometown? Were those people your actual family?

That goes for the neighbor girl, too.

Did you lose anything that was actually real?

...

...You're not wrong, but that's not my point either. The point is where your focus is.

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Listen, last Master of humanity.

I think you're losing yourself to this Singularity.

(Or maybe...you've gone back to who you used to be before your journey began.)

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...I see.

Just keep this in mind: I may have agreed to protect you, but that doesn't mean I'm forming a temporary contract with you.

Everything depends on you. Understand?

Whether you eat the food... Whether you have the strength you need when you need it...

What happens to your allies... What happens to this entire Singularity...

Your life... Humanity... It all depends on you. All of it.

Oh my. Why the long face?

You looked so much happier the other day. Right now, you look like the world is about to end.

Are you feeling unwell? School just let out for the day. This is when the fun begins.

You could join a sports team, chat with friends...

...hang out in the city, play fighting games at the arcade...

If you wanted to, you could read in the library, or take extra classes at night.

Hmm?

Well, if none of those ideas float your boat...

...why don't you come to the music room with me? I'll treat you to some of the best tunes you've ever heard.

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Oh? You don't like that idea, either?

You know, there're plenty at this school who'd pay good money for an offer like that. And I mean GOOD money.

Well, if you're not in the mood for that, what about something deeper, like

...This is weird.

By now, someone would usually have stepped in to stop me.

I know Mr. Salieri's stuck in a faculty meeting, but I thought Kyrie would've said something by now.

Oh, that reminds me. Is she not with you today?

...Hm?

Fujimaru?

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Know what?

Huh? What are you

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...You look terrible.

I take it you don't remember me.

Good grief. I can't believe you'd forget your beloved aunt.

It's been a long time, Fujimaru.

For the time being, why don't you watch some TV while I get dinner ready?

I know. How does hamburger steak sound? Or maybe you'd prefer curry?

...Well, I say that, but I'm not exactly an expert in the kitchen. I usually get by on frozen food and takeout.

Still, I can at least do the cooking today. It's the very first day of our new life together, after all.

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You mean you haven't heard?

I'm going to be your guardian from now on.

I may not be the homemaker my sister was, but I'm still going to take care of you until you're grown up.

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I'm sure you don't mind that, do you? I'm every bit as wise, beautiful, and tough as she was.

What more could you want from a role model? In fact, when it comes to toughness, I'd say I've even got my sister beat.

...Well, look.

Even if you do have a problem with this...

...I already decided to stay here and be your guardian, so you're going to have to accept it.

Got that?

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Good.

Use your words.

Much better. There's a good boy.

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...I know I'm not my sister, and I never will be, but I'm going to do the best I can in her place.

All I ask is that you try to meet me halfway. If you can't do that right now, I understand. But...

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Got it.

No need to thank me. This is for both of us.

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Oh. Is that the hint of a smile I see?

Is it that I am just so stunning? You know what, let's say it is.

What about my face? Does it remind you of someone?

Someone besides your mother, I mean?

Oh? You mean someone other than your mother?

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Well, that's no surprise. They say there are at least three people out there who look exactly like you.

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What? Were you not thinking of a person at all or something?

...I see. It's a dog, isn't it? It certainly can't be a cat. A husky, maybe?

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Hehe.

All right, enough of that for now. Time to whip up a delicious dinner.

You just sit tight and watch some TV or something.

...Oh, right. I already said that, didn't I? Hehehe.

Fujimaru.

I just wanted to say...

...you can talk to me. You can tell me about anything on your mind. Anything at all.

Whatever you want to say...I want to hear.

And until you do, I'm going to keep quiet for my part.

... ...

...That's all. Make sure you shower before you go to bed.

...Right. Good night.

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