Chapter 20: Bird Cage

Save me, Leader!

Please, hear me! Leader!

Help us! Leader!

The Lance of Longinus!

Nina, we can't beat all of these nightmares! Save your energy!

And these nightmares... don't seem to attack us...

Perish!

...

Leader?! Is it really you?

It's Leader! Why are you here?

Leader! Leader...

Victoria is lost in the grief of losing a loved one...

Cannot escape...

Stay away from me! All of you!

I'm not sure either...

Berial said that he was going to send us to you, and so... here we are.

Everyone here seems to be lost in painful memories. If it wasn't for Nobunaga's guidance, I wouldn't be awake either.

Leader? Why are you here?

This is the other side of the Promised Kingdom.

In order for everyone in the Promised Kingdom to be happy forever...

Berial used Anna!

She is like a barrier that can keep the good within the Promised Kingdom and trap all emotions and memories of fear, anger, and sorrow here.

The price is that she must forever be locked within this cage!

...

This was my choice!

Somebody must bear the darkness to protect everyone from the nightmares!

But...

I won't regret it...

For everyone's sake, I won't regret it...

...

L-Leader?

Leader...

Oh, good morning, Leader! Trouble sleeping last night?

You seem tired. Do you want to talk about it?

A dream?

You can tell me about it if you like. I'll be a good listener.

We shouldn't feel negative emotions in the Promised Kingdom, right?

Maybe it'll pass. After all, you're the only person left that didn't strip away the misery.

I'm sad that Anna became the barrier too.

But to protect everyone's happiness, somebody must bear the darkness.

I don't wanna argue with you, Leader.

But trust me. This was the best choice.

Your sacrifice means nothing...

Now is not the time to argue, Berial.

You risk your life to protect those that cannot see the nightmares, but they will never be thankful to you! We could have cut it off from the source...

That is not protection, Berial.

The responsibility of the "Radiants" is to fight the nightmares.

We have talked over this "Promised Kingdom" plan far too many times.

I won't hurt them, trust me! The Promised Kingdom is the best choice that we can make!

I trust you. But wait until this war is over, Berial.

We will find this "best" choice together.

Sorry, my mind wandered off a bit. I was just thinking of something.

Now, where were we?

You can't change what's already happened, Leader. All we can do is accept the reality.

The flowers on this table can only wither and die after blossoming. We can only accept the reality, and bear witness to it.

You raise your blade against me eventually, Leader.

You may have the Elementium Lens, but you are still too naive.

No offense, dear Leader, but you are no match for me!

(Dammit, he's too fast!)

Are you still going to charge at me, knowing that it is futile?

Why do you all always make the same choice?

You'll need more than that to beat me!

Hey, what's with all the fighting this early in the morning?

Yeah, Leader, what's going on?

Are you a-alright?

Sigh. Why won't you just approve of the Promised Kingdom!

This is a world full of happiness!

I have cut off all sources of darkness here! We need not bear the burden of darkness any longer...

If you were to be betrayed by someone you protected, you would understand, Leader.

If I could rectify my errors earlier, then perhaps-

How many times do I need to say this!!!

They will not thank you! They will only betray you when you need them the most!

You shouldn't protect them. They don't deserve-

Cough... Cough...

This is also... an a-aspect of darkness...

People are born... this way...

This darkness should not exist!

Berial...

Don't worry. I know what to do.

Somebody once said the same thing you said. I wanted to believe "his" choice, but ultimately, "he" died.

He died from betrayal!

You have chosen to bear the darkness. Well, let's see if you can shoulder the burden of betrayal!

I c-can't control my b-body!

Do you see, Leader? The human mind is a fickle thing, suspicious, anxious, and without stability.

A little manipulation is all that is needed to corrupt them.

Pain, despair, loneliness, betrayal...

You wish to bear the darkness? Your actions speak louder than your words!

Quick... G-go away...

The more they resist my control, the more that they suffer.

No!!!

Sakura, Shower!

Why don't you d-dodge?

Gaaaaaah!

Give it up, Leader. You cannot defeat me!

You can't bear to fight them either. You are too soft.

?!

…You're a madman.