Just like the other created beings, Altair clearly did not expect the Spacequake to descend at this particular time.
However, unlike the others present, though she was restrained by Dazai Osamu and rendered as helpless as meat on a chopping block, a slightly deranged smile appeared on her face.
But that smile did not last long.
As soon as she heard Natsumi Kyouno proposal, her heart sank.
Among the many secondary creations, she had indeed acquired the setting of immortality and theoretically possessed an infinite lifespan.
She had always believed that Holopsicon was the most powerful ability and enjoyed the convenience it brought, never once questioning it.
However, now that the Spacequake had arrived, and she was just a step away from achieving her goal of world destruction, all her efforts up to this point were about to be undone because of Holopsicon's omnipotence.
"Damn it, there must be a way out of this..."
Within the range of City Devouring Time, Altair barely maintained her consciousness.
Though Holopsicon was temporarily suppressed by No Longer Human, her body was still that of a created being, not easily susceptible to the spiritual erosion of the time-devouring city.
Facing such a dead-end situation, she racked her brain to find a way to break through.
"That's right, the Spirit Crystal!"
Although she hadn't inquired about the specifics of No Longer Human, in this desperate situation, she still placed her final hope in the Spirit Crystal within her body.
However, Natsumi Kyouno had evidently sensed her thoughts.
"Unsealer, [Open]!"
At lightning speed, she pointed the tip of the Unsealer toward Altair body. With a twist of the magic wand, the power to open up things and concepts was activated.
Under normal circumstances, if the No Longer Human was ineffective against Altair, then the Unsealer would naturally be ineffective as well.
However, now that Holopsicon was suppressed, both the No Longer Human and the Unsealer held a higher conceptual rank than Altair!
As [Open] was activated, a small channel connected to Altair interior opened.
Natsumi Kyouno directed her mana and pulled out the Spirit Crystal from within Altair.
With that, Altair lost her final chance to turn the tables.
"Zafkiel—Fourth Bullet!"
From the enormous, ancient Roman clock, black smoke began to seep out from the numeral IV.
As the Fourth Bullets were formed, Bandage three aimed at the sky and rapidly pulled the trigger.
Though it was a flintlock pistol, it was being fired like a Gatling gun.
Each of those Fourth Bullets, after being shot into the sky, didn't fly out into space but instead merged into the sky, fusing with the power of the Spacequake.
Ten, a hundred, a thousand...
The countless holes in the sky shrank at a visible rate under the power of time reversal, causing the rate of Natsumi Kyouno mana loss to gradually decrease.
No one kept count of how many bullets Bandage three fired.
But after at least ten thousand rounds, the sky finally became clear once again, showing no signs of abnormality.
"It's finally over…"
Everyone present let out a long sigh of relief.
Especially Natsumi Kyouno — at this moment, she was extremely grateful that her initial attempt to kidnap Kamijou Touma had failed, forcing her to seek help from Dazai Osamu instead.
Had she not coincidentally brought Bandage three along, she would have had no way to resolve this.
"Well then, now…"
With the threat of world destruction resolved, Natsumi Kyouno turned her attention back to Altair.
Too many unexpected events had happened; she no longer wanted to continue Tachibanangling with Altair.
To avoid any more surprises, it was best to eliminate her now.
However, given Natsumi Kyouno character, she couldn't be the one to propose such a thing.
So, she quietly stepped aside and stood with the others, waiting for one of the created beings to take action.
The atmosphere turned silent.
Everyone looked at one another, seemingly waiting for someone else to make the final move.
Selesia didn't feel it appropriate for her to deliver the final blow to a major boss like Altair, especially since she hadn't contributed much in the final battle.
Yuuya Mirokuji had a personal rule against killing women — from the beginning, he had no intention of taking the final shot.
Dazai Osamu simply couldn't move to do it even if he wanted to.
And so, everyone waited for someone else to bring closure.
Ahem.
After a brief silence, Meteora, as the nominal leader of the faction, stepped forward.
However, just as she was about to cast the spell to finish off Altair, a panting voice came from not far away.
"Please wait a moment!"
It was a voice familiar to everyone.
Turning to look, Natsumi Kyouno saw the one approaching was Sōta Mizushino, riding a bicycle and clearly out of breath from rushing over at full speed.
"Sōta, why are you here?"
Selesia walked over, a mix of surprise and slight reproach in her tone: "This is a battlefield. If we hadn't defeated Altair, you might have lost your life."
"I only dared to come because I saw that you defeated her."
Sōta wiped the sweat from his forehead and forced a sheepish smile as he looked at Meteora.
He bit his lip and nervously clenched his fists, hesitating as he spoke, "If it's possible... I'd like to make a request."
"What kind of request?"
"Let me… return to the past."
In fact, the Japanese government had been closely monitoring the battle.
They mobilized every available surveillance method — even temporarily took control of satellites.
Meanwhile, the creators involved in this incident were also anxiously watching the battle unfold.
Sōta Mizushino was no exception.
Although he was not a creator, he was somewhat connected to Altair and knew about the arrival of the created beings — the Japanese government never excluded him.
He had participated in some of the previous meetings, though he had never actively voiced his opinions.
The idea of using Zafkiel's Twelfth Bullet to go back in time had already occurred to him the moment he saw Bandage three.
However, for various reasons — not wanting to trouble the already-busy created beings, and being too ashamed to ask for something he couldn't repay — he had kept the thought buried deep inside.
But just moments ago, seeing everyone join forces to defeat Altair, this battle that may have determined the fate of the world finally reaching its end — he could no longer suppress the urge in his heart.
If he didn't speak now, he might never get another chance.
"I want to ask Bandage three to use the power of the Twelfth Bullet to send me three months back in time," Sōta Mizushino voice trembled, "to the time when Setsuna Shimazaki committed suicide."
The first one to react to this request was not Bandage three or Natsumi Kyouno.
It was Altair.
She had already accepted her defeat and was prepared to die at any moment, her eyes closed in resignation — but now, she opened her eyes wide, glaring at Sōta Mizushino with a burning gaze.
"How shameless… utterly shameless!"
Her voice was laced with uncontrollable anger, and she growled through gritted teeth,
"Back then, you abandoned Setsuna like a coward, and now you shamelessly want to make up for your mistake? Do you think the world is that kind?"
"It's true I was wrong back then. That's exactly why I want to change things now!"
Sōta Mizushino did not back down, instead glaring right back.
"As long as I use the Twelfth Bullet, I can go back to the past and persuade Setsuna not to commit suicide. Everything can return to normal, and Setsuna will still be alive…"
"Do you think I'm not capable of something like that?!"
Before Sōta could finish, Altair emotions became even more volatile.
She roared in fury,
"But even if Setsuna is brought back to life, so what? In this world—ugly, filthy, overflowing with malice and defilement—that forced Setsuna to choose death, even if she lives again, she'll only suffer more!"
Altair potential was by no means inferior to that of Sōgū Miroku.
With the omnipotent level of her "Holopsicon," if fully developed, she could surpass even Miroku in power.
If she wanted to resurrect Setsuna Shimazaki, she had countless ways to do so.
But she had never chosen that route.
Instead, she chose to take revenge on the world that drove Setsuna to her death.
Because even if Setsuna were revived, she would just continue to live in torment.
"Besides, can you really persuade Setsuna Shimazaki to give up on suicide?"
Meteora didn't know Setsuna personally, and asked calmly,
"For someone who truly wants to die, can someone like you—a mere 'friend'—really change her mind?"
In fact, the plan of using the Twelfth Bullet to send someone who knew Setsuna back in time to prevent her suicide had already been discussed, even before Sōta mentioned it.
And the conclusion they had reached—was that it wouldn't work.
Because Setsuna was an extremely reclusive person.
Her parents had no real affection for her.
She had no close friends at school.
After thorough investigation, they couldn't even find a single viable candidate to return to the past.
As for Sōta Mizushino?
In everyone else's eyes, he was nothing more than a friend who had interacted with her for a mere month or two.
But as a transmigrator, Natsumi Natsumi Kyouno knew better.
To Setsuna Shimazaki, Sōta Mizushino was not just a friend—far from it.
If, back then, Sōta had just been a little braver, a little more confident—if he had chosen to become Setsuna's steadfast support instead of abandoning her—then perhaps, with that emotional support, she wouldn't have sunk into such despair as to end her life.
As for why Natsumi Kyouno, even knowing that going back might change everything, still kept silent?
First, because this information was part of the "bonus" brought by transmigration and couldn't be disclosed to others.
Second, because if Sōta really did persuade Setsuna and changed the timeline, how was she supposed to complete her main mission?
But now that the main mission was complete, that second concern no longer applied.
"I can do it. I definitely can."
Sōta Mizushino took a deep breath and said firmly,
"If Setsuna had truly lost all hope at the time of her suicide, then send me back to four months ago. If that doesn't work, then five months ago, six months ago—no matter how many times, as long as I can travel back to a time when Setsuna still had even a sliver of will to live…"
"And after you persuade her?" Altair asked mockingly.
"The Twelfth Bullet can't let you stay in the past forever. Even if you persuade her once, what if she succumbs to malice again and thinks of suicide—what will you do then?"
"Then I'll beat the past me into submission and make him stay by Setsuna's side forever—become her pillar of support!"
"Shameless!" Altair glared at him, furious.
"Don't talk to me about 'forever.' You're not worthy of Setsuna!"
"I love Setsuna, and Setsuna loved me too!" Sōta shot back without yielding.
"That's a fact you can't deny!"
Sōta Mizushino wasn't the type to say things like that.
But in the heat of the moment, his emotions had taken over and he couldn't control his mouth anymore.
Besides, this was his only chance to save Setsuna Shimazaki.
If he didn't go all out now, once the Created Beings all left this world, there'd be no more chances.
"You say Setsuna loved you—what proof do you have?" Meteora asked.
"Of course I have proof."
Sōta Mizushino nodded heavily and pointed at Altair.
"She is the proof."
Back when Setsuna was still alive, she once said she would design a character based on Sōta as a gift to him.
But until her suicide, Sōta never received that gift.
It wasn't until he discovered that Altair had been created by Setsuna, and researched the meaning of her name, that he understood—Altair was that promised gift.
Altair—this name comes from the English "Altair," meaning the star of the eagle.
In Chinese, that star has another name—the Cowherd Star.
In Sōta's eyes, he was just a talentless, forgettable, introverted, average guy.
But in Setsuna's eyes, he was handsome, composed, and reserved—like a knight who could protect her.
She poured the image of the Sōta in her heart onto paper, and from that—the Military Uniform Princess, Altair, was born.
Sadly, the handsome knight was only a fantasy.
In her moment of deepest despair, Sōta had chosen to abandon her.
"When I realized how Setsuna felt about me, I regretted my cowardice even more."
Sōta's voice was heavy, but also solemn.
"But if I'm given one more chance, I will stay by her side and become the person she dreamed of. I'll make sure she finds happiness."
"shut up!"
Learning that her very existence was essentially a love letter from Setsuna to Sōta made Altair lose control.
Even Dazai was struggling to hold her back.
"I will never allow a narcissistic coward like you to receive Setsuna's love!"
As the two continued to argue, Natsumi Kyouno tried seeing things from Altair perspective.
If your mother, in her time of greatest need, was abandoned by your deadbeat father—who not only failed to help but walked away, causing her to spiral into depression and take her own life…
And now, that same deadbeat father returns, repenting and wanting another chance with her…
From that angle, Altair emotional breakdown was understandable.
"Suddenly I don't want to help him anymore." smacked her lips.
But that was just a passing thought.
After all, Setsuna and Sōta weren't really husband and wife.
They weren't even officially a couple.
While it was morally questionable that Sōta remained silent when she needed him most, he wasn't the one who cyberbullied her.
And his silence wasn't because he wanted to see her fall, but rather due to the inferiority complex of an ordinary person who couldn't bear the radiance of someone becoming more and more brilliant—so brilliant it hurt him.
So perhaps, a second chance wasn't undeserved.
She discreetly threw a glance toward Bandage three, who immediately understood and cleared her throat.
"Hmm-hmm, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, lovers separated by fate—what a touching romance, what a tragic tale."
Bandage three chuckled.
"Be grateful, young man. Your story has moved me. Since you've resolved yourself, let me become your magpie bridge and connect the divide between life and death for you!"
The next moment, dark smoke rose from the twelve o'clock mark of the ancient clock.
Everyone exchanged looks, but no one moved to stop it.
Because all the Created Beings present knew—perhaps this truly was the best ending.
"You despicable worm!"
Altair glared at Sōta Mizushino, but she could do nothing.
As the flintlock aimed at Sōta's head, and the outcome was clear, she could only issue a final threat:
"If you fail to bring happiness to Setsuna, I will return."
"I will always be watching you and Setsuna. Remember that!"
"Bang!"
Before Sōta could reply, Bandage three had already fired the Twelfth Bullet.
Sōta was sent back in time—only three months.
The amount of spirit power needed wasn't much, and even Bandage three's clone could handle it.
And almost the moment Sōta vanished, the edge of the world began to fade into whiteness.
As if the wrong answer was being erased by an eraser—bit by bit, it vanished.
"Looks like Sōta succeeded."
Selesia looked at her body as it gradually turned into data and disappeared.
A relieved smile appeared on her lips.
All the other Created Beings—Altair included—also began to fade.
The power of the Twelfth Bullet was to travel into the past and create a new world line.
Fundamentally different from the Spacequake.
The Spacequake was for destruction.
The Twelfth Bullet—for change.
For a better future.
And now that a better world line had appeared, this one—was no longer needed.
For Natsumi Kyouno, it was also a good way to exit.
But only for her...
"Wait! You're just gonna vanish and return to the settlement space? What about me?!"
Realizing something, Bandage three's expression changed as she grabbed Natsumi Kyouno's arm.
"If this world line is reset, doesn't that mean my memories will be erased too?!"
"Ah... probably, yeah. You're not under the system's protection, so to you, it's like this whole thing never happened."
Bandage three's face immediately turned to despair.
Her only hope had been that her main body would finish acting out the ten Spirits soon, and she could finally retire from the Armed Detective Agency.
But now, her memories would vanish with this world line.
She'd forget that her main body had even visited her.
She'd be stuck again, endlessly playing the role of Bandage three in the world of Bungou Stray Dogs.
"Nooooooooooo!"
Her wail echoed through the land that was about to disappear.
And soon, as her form completely faded, it came to an abrupt stop.