Chapter 139

“However, I have the power to heal that defect. “I can mend how their greed drives them to take from each other and replace their hearts with kinder ones—ones filled with love for others, ones that share openly, and ones that respect the small joys they already know. “Together,” Keine concluded as she extended her hand and offered Lindworm a handshake, “we can forge something better. With my kinder hearts and your eternal reign, we can create a perfect world where everyone is happy and all can live in peace. We can build one here…and we can build one in the world I come from!” “The world you come from?” Keine’s impassioned proposal sparked Lindworm’s interest, and while he was distracted… “Is there anyone who can still move?!” …a desperate shout echoed across the Tomino Basin. And of all people, it came from Lyrule, who by all rights should’ve been dead. Indeed, she had perished. The voice coming through her mouth belonged to Yggdra, the homunculus possessing her body. “If there is, then please…grab on!!” As she spoke, Yggdra desperately held out her hand and prayed that someone would answer. “HrrrrAAHHHH!!” Fortunately, one of the High School Prodigies, prodigy journalist Shinobu Sarutobi, did exactly that. While the others had been caught entirely off guard, Shinobu was an investigative journalist. She’d already known about Keine’s dark side, and she’d inferred about her goals. A small part of her had considered the possibility Lindworm’s philosophy might align with Keine’s. That little consideration had enabled her to take an on-the-spot reaction. Shinobu had managed to evade Keine’s needle, although not entirely. Her vision was blurred, but she was still conscious. On hearing Yggdra’s cry, Shinobu snatched up Prince Akatsuki from the ground beside her and spent the last of her strength breaking into a dash. Lyrule sat up, and Shinobu grabbed her hand. As soon as she did, a flash of magical green light exploded from Lyrule’s body. The three of them—Lyrule, Shinobu, and Akatsuki—vanished. Yggdra had teleported them away. Thanks to her magic, the three had made an escape. Lindworm watched it all happen, but he seemed utterly disinterested. He returned his attention to Keine. “…Might I ask you to elaborate on that?” Lindworm had been born the sole member of the strong, and as prodigy king, he felt a sense of responsibility to each and every member of the weak. To him, Keine’s intimation that she came from another world was incredibly fascinating. With that, the strings of fate that had been tied to that world since time immemorial had brought about a conclusion that none could have foreseen. This marked the beginning of the High School Prodigies’ battle against Prodigy King Lindworm—a foe even mightier and more resolute of will than the evil dragon he’d consumed.