Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

I don't know when it started. That's not important. The things that need to be done have already been decided, right?

Because she was his sibling—his only sister.

"I won't let you kill her!"

He had to protect her. Tiony had to protect Tiona.

She had to protect her younger sister; they only had each other.

She had always protected her younger sister, who was being targeted by her own kind in the arena, and always stayed by her side, protecting her sister who always fell asleep first. Tione always quietly protected Tiona, who shone like the sun.

The same will be true in the future.

"...You guys are really quite unique Amazonians."

Argana judged Tione and Tiona in this way, as if comparing them to her own sisters.

She smiled at the small miracle of sisterhood still existing in the Dou Kingdom (Tir Scylla), which was founded on the law of cannibalism.

"You two really love each other."

"What nonsense are you spouting?!"

"I can tell you nothing, so I'll tell you. It's a rare opportunity, after all."

As Algana stood up, she told her, as if it were a bit of fun:

"Tiona has always been protecting you."

✿

—Tione, Tione.

As a child, I would repeatedly call out my sister's name in the darkness.

Tiona stepped back, watching the small, crying figure from behind.

The girl... was unable to become a "warrior" as a child.

He strayed from the path of a "warrior".

Why didn't Tiona, who is more innocent than anyone else, become a "warrior"?

It's very simple. It's Tiony.

Ever since the day her sister shed tears in front of her, ever since Dione killed Serudas and cried uncontrollably, a feeling began to sprout in Diona's heart.

—I have to protect her.

Tiona wasn't pitying her. It was just taken for granted. Because she was another version of herself. Protecting oneself needs no reason; it's a matter of course.

From that day on, Tiona began murdering her roommate in the same stone house. To be precise, she voluntarily participated in the "ritual." When her roommate and Tiona became a couple, she asked the goddess (Kali) to let her take her sister's place in order to protect Tiona's heart, which was scarred from her training with Argana.

As their "ritual" approached, she knew Tione was troubled. Tiona disliked it too. So she pleaded with the goddess (Kali), offering to accept the chief god's condition if her wish could be granted: a series of "rituals" performed overnight, killing several of her kin. Tiona even fulfilled this condition, and did so without Tione's knowledge.

Because of this unique bond, Tiona did not become a "warrior" but remained Tiona Schilute.

If she hadn't seen Tione crying and breaking down, Tiona might have also become "on the other side".

Perhaps they also became Amazons fighting to fill the emptiness in their hearts.

He transforms into a pure and innocent berserker, his face revealing an innocent smile, his body splattered with the blood of his opponents, and he goes on a killing spree.

Tiona knew this very well. She knew the difference was very thin. It was her sister's existence that kept her, this fool, alive.

Tione is the moon.

When Diona stood lost in the darkness, Tione, like moonlight, guided her. As she slept, Tione nestled peacefully beside her like the moon. Diona loved Tione at night. The woman who was easily angered and secretive during the day became frank at night. And at night, Tione would gently embrace her. The moon's cradle.

Tiona could only sleep peacefully by Tione's side.

—Tione, Tione.

The little me was crying, saying that I could never stand up again.

Tiona loves fighting. But she doesn't like killing. When she kills her last roommate in the Stone House during the "Ritual," her childhood self cries behind the mask. She's heartbroken. Her body and soul are in pain.

—Tione, save me.

She hoped that Thione would, as usual, slap her on the head, scold her, and grab her hand.

In the darkness, forced to see her former self on the edge of her soul, Tiona quietly touched her chest.

She closed her eyes, then opened them and looked up—Tione was standing right in front of her.

—Don't you dare lose, Tiona.

She remembered what her sister, who had just broken up with her boyfriend a little while ago, had said.

I recall that silhouette, glistening in the moonlight.

Tiona stood behind her younger self and picked up a "book" that had fallen to her feet.

She handed the "book" to the girl who was exhausted from crying.

—Just a little more effort, okay?

—Tione was also struggling.

Tiona smiled. Like the sun.

The little child blinked, took the "book," and reached out to open the cover.

The pages of the storybook rustled as hundreds and thousands of pages were turned, and then my young self encountered the characters from "Heroic Tales"—and smiled.

The past self and the present self grin at each other and hold hands.

"————!"

Tiona's eyes widened resolutely.

Once her previously clouded consciousness regained its light, Tiona quickly stood up.

"!"

Bajie, who was walking towards her, was taken aback and kicked the ground to create distance.

She remained vigilant about the resurrected Tiona, while the other Amazons loudly applauded her.

"Oh, you're standing up."

In the midst of this, Kali smiled beneath her mask.

"But what do you plan to do? The situation hasn't changed; you're still at a disadvantage."

Tiona's body was still smoking from the burns inflicted by the poison (Valges).

Perhaps it was the goddess's voice that reached her ears; Diona vigorously rubbed her face, which was covered in toxins, and then—with her fists on her hips, she loudly proclaimed:

"It doesn't hurt at all!"

Bajie's eyes widened.

"Not at all! It doesn't hurt!"

Kali's mouth was half open.

"I can still play, I'm doing great!"

The Amazonians around them froze, like statues.

"I won't lose!"

Then, Tiona's smile deepened.

As if to say that poisoned skin was nothing, she clenched her fists and struck a rude pose.

Tiona's strategy for countering Baje's Poison Strike (Valges).

They just don't take it seriously at all—they're just putting on a brave face.

This is arguably the dumbest move a girl, who is generally considered to be bad at thinking, could make.

"Pfft—Aha ...

The child goddess, who had been dumbfounded, burst into laughter, then suddenly erupted into uncontrollable raucous laughter. She clutched her stomach with both hands, swung her legs wildly, and laughed so hard she bent over backward.

Hearing Jiali's burst of laughter from above, Bajie remained unfazed, her eyes narrowing sternly.

"...My poison strike (Valges) cannot be resisted by bluffing."

"Yes, actually I'm in a lot of pain, and it's really uncomfortable."

"In that case..."

Before Bajie could finish speaking, Diona interrupted her, saying:

"But I can still laugh."

Bajie opened her eyes wide.

"No matter how much it hurts, how painful, or how heartbreaking—I can still smile."

Tiona was right; a smile did indeed appear on her face.

A smile that shouldn't exist when one is at a disadvantage was on his face.

—In the Kingdom of Tir Sculla, if we were to say what made Tiona and Tione's personalities so distinct, it would definitely be their encounter with "Heroic Tales".

Tiona remembers being captivated by Baje's voice reciting stories and poems.

I remember the protagonist's funny lines made her laugh for ages.

Even now, she can still remember the words the hero said that gave her courage.

"Because I'm an idiot... that's all I can do, but!"

Perhaps it's just succumbing to the hardships of each day and hiding in beautiful stories to escape reality.

Perhaps she was comforting herself with "heroic tales" told to children.

But Tiona did gain a lot from those many stories—she gained smiles.

"I'm still going to laugh to my heart's content!"

As long as she smiled, she felt that one day Tione would smile back at her.

She felt that if even she didn't laugh, that faded world of blood and dust would never change.

So she smiled.

Having been saved by "Heroic Tale," Tiona remained cheerful and carefree even in a world with only the two of them. And Tione—on that day, finally smiled too.

"I want to laugh and chase away all the sadness!"

Tiona has a favorite "heroic tale".

Heroes of the Argonauts.

The story of an ordinary young man who dreams of becoming a hero.

A comical tale of heroism that once made Tiona laugh until she cried.

I want to laugh.

No matter how much I'm looked down upon or how much ridicule I receive, I will face it with a smile.

Otherwise, even if it were a fairy or the goddess of fate, it wouldn't smile at me.

—Laugh.

Just like the fairy tale hero who encouraged me.

Just like the characters in a beautiful story.

No matter how much it hurts or how uncomfortable it is, you can just tough it out.

I want to include someone else's share too.

To welcome a bright tomorrow, you must smile.

It's not about a sense of tragedy or anything else—it's just right for someone as simple as me who hates overthinking!

"I want to help those who can't laugh to laugh!"

After saying that, Tiona flashed a bright smile.

"I'll keep smiling until she smiles happily at me!"