The barbecue is over, late at night...
I was on my own balcony upstairs, thinking about what I said to Sierra.
I said I wanted magic to be a dream, but I've killed people and monsters, and dreams don't make me optimistic with words.
But I wasn't worried about it.
When did you get into the room, Mr. Hilda shows up there?
"I knew I was right to leave you to Masamune."
As he entered the balcony, he put his arms together and elbowed to the trunk.
"I said I left it to you... were you watching?
"When Sierra was hugging you? Of course I was watching, my father and my mother."
……
"You don't have to worry about it. Because we were both delighted that Sierra finally had a believable friend. I was right to ask you to keep asking for Sierra."
That's all I told him, and Mr. Hilda stopped his leg in front of him entering the room, even as he left the fence to follow the balcony.
"And remember what I said before."
Mr. Hilda disappeared from the room to the hallway.
He's an unusual person.
- "There was a reaction to the demonic prop" The Ring of the Dragon Crystal "
Suddenly I heard the usual announcement.
The display appears in front of you.
"Mmm, a ring of dragon crystals?
I remembered it from by the side I questioned.
This was given to Sieg then.
I took the ring out of storage and put it on my finger.
"Is this it? ……
'... Yeah, you got it?... maybe... can you hear me? Nito'
I can hear people but it's hard to hear them.
Plus the noise is mixed with chatter, and I can hear three voices.
But gradually stabilizing, I found out that was his voice.
"Nito, can you hear me? It's Zeke."
"Oh, I hear you. You tried to kill me. You're Zeke, right?
You can't forget.
"Speaking of which, you guys raided Greyberg. The boulder is a terrorist organization. I always thought I'd go lighter because I said it was an investigation."
'... Nito, I need to make sure first, where are you now?
"... but Razhausen," I answered unfathomably.
'Well, has it arrived that far already...'
'Sieg, we don't have time for this,' a pressing woman's voice was heard in the back of the readings.
'I'm sorry. I'd like to take the time to explain if I can, but I don't have the time. But apparently you know what we're doing in Greyberg right now, and I'd like to speak to you directly, if I may.'
"Well, you guys look like celebrities. So, what do you mean, go straight in?
"Remember when I invited you to the organization?
"Oh, you want me to go into something called the heart of a dragon, don't you?
'It helps me remember. How about after that, you ready to go in?
"That's subtle."
"Subtle?"
"It's surprisingly close to what I was secretly thinking and what you guys are trying to do right now"
'... is there anything, even resentment for Greyberg?
"That's the place. Come to think of it, it's not all bad because I worked with you guys, there are parts that seem to be."
'... I was relieved to hear that. Well, then, don't be shy, Nito, but can you help us?
"Help me?
"When entering Greyberg, I fought Albert Morrow, the forest wizard."
Albert - the old man who was in the hall with the Ariels.
"I know that delightful old man."
When I answered that, I heard a laugh of "kussss" from beyond the reading.
"Apparently Nito has a reason to be here, too."
"Alford, you're telling me we don't have time for this."
Apparently the laughter now belongs to Alford.
'If you know, I'm quick to talk to you, I actually have a little problem. Albert was a wise man who made a name for himself on the continent back then. Soon he lived in hiding in Greyberg, but it was Albert who was responsible for the backbone of the brave summons'
"So what's the problem?
"I need to rest my body for a while."
"... I see. So you're telling me to take your place."
"There's still Ariez and Johannes in the castle, they're both quite hand-worked. You'll also be dealing with an even more direct unit. Eliza and Alford alone have heavy loads, whether or not they have magic until then... '
"Is that also why we decide at this time?
'If it was meant to be, you should put it back out when this happened to me. But this time it's a brave summons, I can't postpone it. If we don't strike our hands immediately, we will go to war. If you're gonna do it, now's the only time.'
"... you kill the summoned ones too?
'I do not know about the scale of the summons, but there is no sin on those in the other world. The only people to kill are those who made the summons and those involved. But everyone in the castle will be killed. "
- If you're going to kill me, it's the only time.
I thought so, too.
I don't know the difference in power from the Saabs.
But only kingdom officials will kill him this time.
I thought after I got enough power to be a little more certain, but now I have a crooked companion. This is a great opportunity.
"... ok, I'll only help you this time. But I haven't decided to be one of you yet."
"I know that."
"And Johannes and Ariez, let me kill you, I know you."
'... okay, I originally meant to. Alice Greyberg is a user of metastatic magic. He is a well-known assassin in the back society and is known by the alias Witch of the Neck'
That's why you made me fly.
Assuming he's an assassin at the princess's mercy, and even an alias.
"His father, King Johannes Graeberg, holds the title of S-Rank Adventurer. He was a magical user of earthly attributes."
"You're a king but an adventurer, and the more you ask, the more frigid you are. So, where are we gonna rendezvous? It'll take at least a few days from here to Greyberg."
"Transfer magic moves you here."
"I see, did you have that hand? But how are we gonna do that? I can't use metastatic magic."
'Heh, he's still crazy. Put the ring of the dragon crystal on your left middle finger. And put it up in front of your heart. All you have to do is say "Adaptive Metastasis (Transcode)". The timing of the chant signals over here'
Totally handy tool. It could be more luxurious than Sierra expected.
"Then wait a little while until I signal."
So for once, I ran out of reading.
I'll go back inside the room and close the balcony door.
"- What do you mean now?
The blood caught my attention.
Looking back, Toa stood in the room.
"Who were you talking to? He said he was going to Greyberg..."
- Toa talked to me.
"It's the heart of a dragon."
"... yes"
Toa turned away from me.
A painful silence flowed through the room for a while.
"You're going."
"... oh, I'll be right back"
"Do I have to go?
Toa's tone only slightly strengthened.
"It's been decided for a long time, I was going to go to that country someday"
"I don't get it. But I know Masamune is trying to do something bad..."
"That's right... I'm thinking about things that aren't good"
"Then! -"
"- I still have to go. Otherwise, we can't move forward..."
I can turn back now.
But that's just trying to escape on the grounds of weakness.
I'm trying to get away from something I don't want to see.
Yes... I'm afraid to go to that place.
There is a Saab in that country.
My memory in the previous world is stained with a lot.
Especially that hall.
I'm afraid to go back in all ways.
But if you stay here, you won't be denied.
If you're with Toa, Sierra, or Nem, you won't be scorned for incompetence.
But that country isn't. That hall is a fear to me.
There is a stain of malice over there on those who denied my existence.
That's the only reason I thought it was now if I were to kill you.
Fear becomes traumatic when left alone.
You will continue to be bound by the pain of the past even in this world.
"What the hell can we do now, cowards who can't even get revenge?"
I can't help but say that to Toa.
But I didn't know what to say to Toa.
"It's me... I've always been alone at home"
Then Toa suddenly started talking in a calm atmosphere.
"I missed you, and I was bored. That's why I used to sneak into the treasure trove and play with crap I didn't quite understand."
What are you talking about?......
"I found a mirror one day. It was a big mirror. Except it was a normal mirror, but I missed it somewhere... and I touched it. Then I saw a man in a mirror that was only me."
"A man?
"The man was alone, walking alone in the dark. Sometimes, the view in the mirror was disturbed and the person was invisible, but every time the view returned, the person was hurt and bleeding. Still, he just kept moving forward."
I don't know who anywhere, and I don't know what Toa's talking about, but Toa's expression had some emotion.
"I've been drinking and sleeping drunk a few times, but I thought I was amazing. Because there was nothing around in the dark, and yet I was calm, and I didn't try to stop you from moving on. You know, I really laughed."
Toa laughed as if she remembered something.
... alcohol? That's where I remembered.
Speaking of which, when I was in the dungeon, I was sleeping drunk too.
At that time, I still had no idea how to wake up drunk with healing magic.
"Besides, he was strong. I quickly defeated a giant knight much bigger than my back length. And when I saw it, I thought," How can this guy work so hard when he's alone? "
"Just give me a minute. Toa, what's the story..."
"Yes... I was watching Masamune. I've been watching until it stopped in the mirror."
……
"I was in the woods when I realized. Bandits caught me, then Masamune showed up in front of me"
What... what mirror.
This, then, is like...
"- I thought it was fate. I didn't think this was a coincidence. I'm sure there's a reason. To what Masamune and I have met..."
"Why?
"So, fate or something"
I can't believe it's beautiful. I thought of that.
Toa now looks like someone else.
"... destiny. Maybe so...... if it's Toa, that's fine. But... then you know what I mean, right? If you've been looking at me the whole time."
If you stare, you stare back at me, Toa.
"It's not every once in a while that I survived the darkness of just wandering. It's no whim you didn't give up. It's all to kill them. To destroy those who scorned, mocked, betrayed, and that princess and that country. That's what I swore, I kept thinking strongly. So I'm still alive."
Speaking, I was feeling a fear that I didn't know who I was.
"That time... look at me, I won't forget that woman's face. I just looked down at me being miserably skipped, I'll never forget their faces. Toa... do you despise me?
"... I won't. I believe in Masamune. Masamune believes in anyone."
- I was afraid Toa would let me go.
I was afraid Sierra, Nem, and everyone would let me go.
We finally met, to everyone who would accept me... to everyone who would sincerely like to believe me.
"Nito, I'm ready. Anytime, transfer me. '
I heard a message from Sieg.
"... ok"
"You're going."
"... bad"
"Don't apologize... because I know. I'm sure Sierra and Nem will understand."
I'll borrow this robe.
That's the latent robe Toa wore when she met him.
Now I can hide who I am.
"Yeah."
"Well, I'll be there"
I wrapped my robe around it and I saw Toa's face again.
"-" Referral Metastasis (Transcode) "
A magic formation unfolds at your feet and your vision is wrapped in light.
"Masamune......"
When Toa tried to say something, I couldn't see the view of the room and what Toa looked like, and I transferred.
As if descending downstairs in an elevator, the white scenery surrounding the perimeter flows and rises.
In such a world, "Come back," Toa whispered.
Oh no... I felt that.