とある寺の墓前に手向けられた一輪の彼岸花。

城下で遊び疲れた帰り道、川べりで語るその話は奇想天外にして気宇壮大。凡庸な己などにはまるで思いもつかない新しき天下の形。なにより落ちてゆく陽を受け、紅く燃え上がるように煌めくその瞳に心を奪われていた。

いつまでも、いつまでも、そこで笑っていたかった。

いつまでも、いつまでも、そこで泣いていたかった。

いつまでも、いつまでも、そこで共にありたかった。

だが時代が、戦乱の世が、彼を取り巻く全てがそれを許してはくれなかった。

何故、己はこうも愚鈍にして無能なのか。何故、己はその瞳に適う才を持ち得なかったのか。何故、己はこの背を追い続ける事すら出来ないのか。

なればこそ、かの者を貶め阻む全てのモノを除き、かの者を照らす焔の贄となし、己が身すらもその業火に投げうつ事しか出来なかった。

のちに神仏衆生の敵と畏れられ、魔王と呼ばれしかの者の道行きを定めた一輪の徒花。

―――あとはお任せします、姉上。

ああ……、でも出来ることなら
もう少し姉上と遊んでいたかったなぁ……。

A single red spider lily is placed in front of a gravestone at a certain temple.

On the way home after a day of fun at the castle town, near the riverbank, she tells a story that is both bizarre and entrancing. It's an idea for a new unified nation that a mediocre person like you would never have dreamed up in your feeble mind. More than anything, you were captivated by her eyes as they burned a passionate red in the crimson light of the setting sun.

I wanted to keep laughing and smiling in that place forever and ever.
I wanted to keep crying in that place forever and ever.
I wanted us to be there together in that place forever and ever.

But the times, the warring states, and all that surrounded him did not allow it.

Why am I so foolish and incompetent? Why did I not have even an ounce of talent to complement those passionate eyes of hers? Why couldn't I even follow in her footsteps?

I just couldn't, so I had no choice but to eradicate everyone who looked down on her. I had no choice but to offer my very body and throw myself into the fire to illuminate her.

A single barren flower laid the path for her to become the Demon King, a being who eventually became known as the enemy of gods, the Buddha, and all creatures.

I'll leave the rest to you, Sister.

Ah, but if it were possible, I would have liked to hang around with Sister a bit longer...