Boundary Labyrinth and the Foreign Magician

… it seems quite unusual for them to have guests from the outside world. The people on the road also looked surprised when they stopped on their feet, and some were peering through the windows of the houses. I think the grownups are more likely to react like they're scared of this one when their gaze matches to pull their faces in.

Maybe the way little kids react doesn't change that much anywhere. He looks at this one from the alley with interest, or he's stopped by a motherly figure trying to get close to this one.

"Don't worry. He's my guest."

"Yes, sir"

When Forceto tells the mother who came to bring her child back, she answers as she was frightened. When I met him to match him, he gave me back a thank you.

There seems to be no such thing as avoiding or rejecting this one so obviously because of Forceto and Theon and the others.

"Don't get too upset. Everybody's scared of the outside world."

And, says Forceto.

"If you haven't had a chance to make contact with the outside, I don't know what else to do."

As far as the residents' reactions are concerned, it doesn't feel like a demon.

Is it impossible to hide and live in this way and show frightening reactions to intruders because of the nature of the demon first? Although there seems to be at least no doubt that Forceto knows the Unknown King.

"Because there are more people who can't fight, I think they're afraid of people coming from outside"

"... but anyone who can fight can go out and hunt and collect."

"You asked because we can help, too."

"The real reason... was to chase someone back when they got near the entrance."

Forceto closes his eyes to the words of such Zions.

"We... are here of our own free will. But these kids aren't. If you want to go out there, you want to do what you want."

To Forceto's words, Zion and the others lean down with a sorry look on their faces. I guess I'm reflecting.

"... were you still erasing the intruder's memory when Zion and the others weren't around?

"Many of those who come into the woods are adventurers… there have been, albeit very few, those who reach Halvaronis. In that case, we had erased the memories of those who had lost their way and returned home… the ingredients of the medicine were also rare, and it was a difficult situation to keep going. I think that's why Theon and the others went into action."

So the world isn't perfect either. In fact, the adventurers seem to have come as far as Halvaronis. Is Zion's behavior appropriate to eliminate drugs before they are discovered if they save money?

Eventually we take the main street of town and we arrive at the blue tower. Looks like an important facility, but no one stands like a lookout. I guess it means peace in Halvaronis.

A building made of dark blue stone. The surface is as smooth as marble.

"Will the Theons bring the ancients? They will take you to the floor to continue the conversation."

"Okay."

Theon and the others nodded, walking early enough down the aisle in the tower.

"Come here, then"

Forceto proceeded in the opposite direction as the Zions headed. It was in a room with a large round table and chairs that it proceeded through the passageway that touched the outer periphery of the tower.

"Please hang up. Let's get something to drink from the next room."

There is a small room next to the floor from which Forceto brings the tea set. I guess no one is similar to a servant. Forceto made me tea from his bare hands. I guess he's revealing that he's not serving the kind of medicine by putting it in front of everyone's eyes. Well... there are no problems with magic pills, drugs or poisons either way because we have measures in place.

Where a drink has gone to everyone, Forceto sits down in the chair.

"Let me introduce myself again. My name is Forceto-Frestina and I am the head of Halvaronis."

That's what I say, thank you and look up.

"There will be many things you both want to know. It will be longer if we talk... Shall we follow the order? It's also something that leads us to talk about the origins of Zion and the others."

"Please. Let me ask you a question if you don't understand."

Forceto nods.

"Is it first for that reason that the people of Nahalvia call us blame? If we're going to talk about this in the first place, it's because our ancestors were banished long ago for a great crime. Those who betray the ancient princess will not be cast into the desolate wilderness from the capital of glory. That's why we're here."

... it is...

"... descendants of the people of the moon. You guys are."

Claudia said quietly.

"That too...... did you know. Our ancestors... have been told long ago that they betrayed the Princess of the Moon, who gave herself for the world."

"I know. The Frestina family is a clan of civilians serving the royal family of the moon. At that time, the Lord's name was Heisel, and his daughter was Shelia. When I was young... Shelia used to play with me."

As Claudia said, Forceto turned his eyes round and let his hips float.

... Yes. I guess so. Cities with all this advanced magic technology will also be explained if the inhabitants are descendants of the people of the Moon. I don't even know if it's direct or mixed with the grounders.

"... no way... you..."

"Claudia-Suastras. That's my name."

"Ancient......! Your Highness...!

Claudia stops Forceto from trying to lay flat away from his chair.

"I don't need you to bow your head to me. It's not what you guys did in the first place... and I'm sure the King at the time decided to imprison the Clan Brotherhood... but that's enough. I wonder what happened."

Encouraged by Claudia, Forceto quietly returns to his chair.

"... it's a word you don't have. For His Majesty the King of Time, it was also a mercy to keep more people alive. But we were dropped on the ground and left the disaster outside. We call ourselves the blame, and it is a commandment we will never forget."

"By disaster, do you mean the allies of the demons?

"... Yes"

When asked, Forceto nodded with an eyebrow root.

"Betrayal of me means an attempt by a grounder to break into a labyrinth center, right? Does that mean the Frestina family gave you a guide?

"There was confusion at the time, perhaps. Princess - after Lady Claudia went down to earth... there was quite a bit of time before the magic storm subsided. The moon, which can no longer count on supplies on the ground, says it has become quite distressed. In it, one genius of sorcery was born in the Frestina family. That's Istrum-Frestina."

Forceto closes his eyes.

"Istrum advocated that… a special ritual, in which his power is enhanced by training, will enable everyone in the people of the Moon to draw strength from feelings such as the faith directed against him, just like the royal family of the Moon"

"Demon Man..."

Forceto nods quietly at Sheila's whining, continuing the words.

"The people of the Moon are divided into three factions, those who rejoice in it because of the scarcity of supplies, and those who doubt the uncertainty of the ritual… and those who take the opposite position that it is an intrusion into the mystery of the royal family. I hear His Majesty the King of Time was also skeptical of Istrum's words."

... I guess. Istrum's ritual only jeopardizes the royal position of the Moon.

"Opponents also came up with counterproposals after research. I thought the magic storm had already been quelled by the power of the labyrinth. And...... Istrum would have thought that if that were correct, the labyrinth would no longer be necessary. Istrum is said to have interfered on the ground in order to pass his claim."

"Is that - the takeover of the labyrinth?"

"Yes."

By stopping or destroying the labyrinth, we can make Istrum's technique depend on the means to solve the difficulties of the moon.

Conversely, if left to the flow as it is, Istrum could be seen as a disturber to the royalty and opponents of the Moon.

Be the hero who saved everyone from their plight, or sit back and wait, leaving yourself to the stream? Istrum chose to be called a hero, even though he defiled his hands.

Or… it is possible that he already knew what consequences his proposed ritual would have. You think he tried to replace the royal family?

"And things came to light, and Istrum was cut off. And those who gave him were pursued from the capital of the moon into the wilderness of demons. We are… descendants."

... Did Forceto refer to the banishment as the king's mercy? If so, the opposition may have preferred a heavier punishment. Leaving a grudge with half-treatment can also lead to later political anxiety. Because I am in distress, I also need to relieve my mouth. Is that why the innocent will be a stranglehold to keep alive...?

Forceto sighed and closed his eyes and shook his neck sideways, as if to confess his sins.