Cold.

This place felt very cold why, even though it was very warm unlike the woods I was in.

In the woods with so many unusual trees I had never seen, I was alone, waiting for Reis to bring Kai-kun back.

Definitely. Kai-kun is in this city.

I bite my teeth as I look at the city covered by unseen walls. If I were stronger and more familiar with magic and magic - yes!

"Mr. Rainey's book, I hadn't read it yet after all."

I hurry to take that book out of the item box and open the page.

There, only a short sentence was written.

'Look to the future with a false heart. If you do, you will get the answer you truly seek.'

And that's when I tried to turn the next page, and that letter changed by itself.

"Not yet then. Now, that's close. Be prepared, my young heart."

... I couldn't turn the page.

Like sticking around, not even picky. I felt kind of ridiculed and just a little sorry for that book that I couldn't help but get my nails up.

"Mmm... analyze it"

When I poured in the magic, it went through like I watered a hollow bucket, and I couldn't analyze it.

I can't believe you're not resisted, you're just passing by... I don't know what's going on, I can't believe the magic can't touch you even though you exist here...

"... Also, more things I can't stand my teeth on, Kai-kun"

Close the book with a sigh, give up and fall asleep on the ground.

... All you hear is the sound of grass and trees in the wind. The bird's voice.

The sun gradually weakens and the sky moves from evening to night.

As such, spending time alone in the woods reminds me of the old days, even if I don't want to.

I don't like it, I wonder if anyone is there.

I turn to the side of the city for a little while. Then I heard someone talking in my ear.

Kids......? I don't know if it's going to be dark soon.

"He said he was really there... a big hairy twinkle. It must be a big rabbit."

"If you do, will you take it to the butcher!?

"Bye! Take it to the Knights of Liberty! That way you might even let us in on the kid!

A pair of elf children.

Although they are both blonde, the color of their eyes is blue, similar to mine, and emerald green mixed with green.

... I miss you. Back in the day, when there were a lot of elves living in those woods, everyone had a slightly different intensity of hair color or different eye color.

There are differences in ear size and angle.

We all remember that trait, we all remember the name, and we talked so hard.

Right.... Okay, it's almost night and it's dangerous. Your sister needs to be careful.

When I take a step, the grass makes a clammy noise, and two people who are surprised by it raise their voices.

When I exposed myself in front of Vikri and the two of them who shook their bodies, I looked at this one and sighed with relief.

Heh heh, I guess I did something wrong.

"Did I surprise you? It's almost night, I don't know what's coming out and it's dangerous, okay?

"Hih, it was a person... what the hell, it doesn't matter! We're going hunting for the big Rabbit!

"Ugh, yeah. We can afford Rabbit, so it's okay."

"But it's big, isn't it? And in the dark, suddenly jumping from behind, what do you say? You were surprised I just came out."

When you're old enough to want to stretch out, is that it? She has a cute way of swelling her cheeks just a little, and she sounds like she's stuck teasing.

Then we remembered the action we had taken now, or we just blushed a little bit.

"Look, why don't we at least investigate tomorrow, when it's bright. Strong people are cool and smart to get the job done after you do your research in advance, right?

"Investigate… Smart…"

"Oh, I know you, too. I've heard of the Knights forming an investigative team!

"Hehe, isn't it? Wouldn't it be cooler to end it, Dad, after a complete examination of everything rather than suddenly jumping into the dark?

Speak up as gently as you can.

It's tough when you're stubborn. It's okay, these kids aren't bad kids.

Even now, you're desperately thinking of my words.

"Is your sister a freedom knight?

"Yeah? I'm not a freedom knight, but I've been fighting all over the other continents"

"Wow! You were on the outside continent, sister! How, how do you fight!?

"Huh, it's too late to make much noise, but basically it's magic and swords? Like this."

If you use too much magic, it will affect your hair.

So I let my fingertips whirl with little flames and ice, and purple light and thunder, and finally black thread.

Lighting each attribute on the five fingers is very nasty, even with less magic.

Because I'm sure they know that, too, or they made those little eyes shine.

... hehe, yeah, that's cute. I miss you.

"Wow... it's all a different attribute... me, I've never seen it before"

"Flame... ice... thunder? I don't know the other two."

"Heh heh, I've done a lot of research on this too, so I can do it. So don't do anything reckless, either, just get ready before you move, okay?

You finally convinced me that while you two looked just a little sorry, you tried to turn your heels back and go back to the city.

And then you look back and you give me your hand.

"Danger!"

At the next moment, something rushed along the city's outer walls with fierce momentum.

Before this move, the black shadow reaches the children.

Activate magic. Before throwing it into a black shadow, a boy with his hands up is swallowed by that black shadow.

"Wow! Brother! Brother!

"Ohhhhhhh!!! Itai!!! Ahhh!"

"Help now!

Because magic shouldn't hit me, and I rush to take it to the sword.

Never seen, hairy demon. I only have a mouth, I don't even have a face. Distorted presence such that the hands and feet grow directly from the hairballs.

He sticks out his sword and slashes the boy wide open in his mouth.

Then there was a gap in my mouth just to see if my chewing power was weakened.

Reach out and grab the boy's arm and pull it out.

Zuluri and jump away with a boy who came out with a damp feeling.

"It's Itai... It's Itai..."

"Damn... terrible"

About that figure I put to sleep on the ground, about that miserable state, I'm going to keep my mouth shut.

My body was almost melted.

What is this......!?

"" Healing Circle "! Just wait a minute!

I plug into the ground a sword with a large amount of magic in it, forming a place where it gives healing effect to the starting point.

The truth is, I'd like to use a massive healing demon guide for you right now, but before I do...

"... demons, not"

Are you wary of this one, the shadow that nestles with a black body and a saliva dripping from your torn mouth?

There were strange signs. An unnatural stream of magic, unlike demons.

It's as if he's appropriately kept himself in the shape of a creature, pushing and consolidating scraps of yarn knitted into bullshit into some form of force.

"Whatever, pour it here -"

It was then that I activated the highly capable magic to defeat this opponent again.

A large number of footsteps were heard from behind. Maybe the other kid went to get help!

"Guys, look who's here."

Try to convey the characteristics of this opponent to that reinforcement.

Though...

"He's a semi-alle orphan! Abomination brought the monster!

"Oh! There's a child imprisoned over there!

"Huh?"

At that moment, I felt something cold pierced my heart.

A frigid chill ran all over his body, like something cold attached to his spine.

Ah... the color of my hair...!

"Wait, no! I'm trying to help her now."

Now something really hot ripped my cheeks off, not because of my mind.

Then, at that moment, this time from his mouth, who was running through him, he ignored me and attacked the people who had come from the city.

Cool! You got to make it!

"" Ice spinner! "

Rotate and eject the ice blade.

When the legs of the monster were torn apart and disfigured, it seemed that the human being targeted by the gap was able to engage in a painful push.

Though - this time from above, a red burning stone jumped in.

Me, exactly.

Use magic to prevent it. And now I'm hit by something like a chunk of air in that gap, and I'm one step down.

"Now! Get the kid back!

"... why not. Why, no."

Next to me, a man runs along with a boy whose wounds heal only a little.

... Oh well.

I unleash magic on the person.

At least the magic of recovery so that the healing is only a little quicker.

However, it is prevented by someone's procedure.

"Even though it's not. It's just healing magic."

When I noticed, the figure of the monster had disappeared. Have you escaped to the appearance of a large number of humans?

A flaming stone, an arrow, pours down on me.

Everyone had very scary eyes. Everyone's eyes were gleaming in the dark.

... Oh well. I knew it was.

You shouldn't be here. We need to get out of here now.

Run out, retrieve your sword and escape into the woods.

From behind, I heard screams. But there was nowhere else to look back.

Yeah, I didn't. Not for 'me' anymore.

We manage to reach the city gate while avoiding the crowd.

There, armed humans were pushing in large numbers and were also seen raising pine lights to examine nearby forests.

As if looking for something, Reis in your seat speaks to them.

"What is this noise? I'd like to get out of town."

"Not the other way around! Earlier, a kid was attacked and he's seriously ill! There was a demon coming right up to the side of the city... and apparently Abominable brought him here."

"... Abominable child, is it?

"Oh. When we ran, the kid was magically imprisoned, and there was a monster and a gray-haired elf there! I managed to save the kid, but that elf ran off into the woods, and now I'm searching for him."

Rayce, who heard the story, grips the reins hard and runs the magic car without even responding.

He forcefully moves on to the demonic car that suddenly runs out, sparing no time for the people around him to escape in a hurry or settle for it.

"... Lue was out of town, wasn't he?"

"... Yes. Mr. Kai, if you let him run a little, let's get out of the demon car once and find Lue. They may be hiding a little further away."

"Oh, I'm ready"

I'll set 'that configuration' again.

That day... the day I decided to leave the woods, I set up the abilities to explore Lue's true intentions.

And he sharpened his spirit, traced her whereabouts, and his voice.

Continue activating [Sonar] toward the forest as you continue down the street.

Among the signs of animals and demons, it seems that the human reaction that supposedly came to the search has also turned around, but we have not yet been able to find Lue.

No other abilities can find Lue's reaction, only the rush swells.

"Reis, we've come a long way, and it's time to go into the woods"

"... ok"

Which way did Rue go? You're definitely choosing to be in the woods if you don't want to catch your eye.

But if you don't respond to my abilities, are you diving somewhere?

I experimentally try to activate [Sonar] in the air.

Kick the ground with all your might, and shake your sword violently with the kind of momentum that knocks you against the wall of air, not the ground.

Then I felt a wave of magic flying radially towards the ground, farther than normal, making it sound similar to the bursting noise.

"... I can't get the details, but don't go too far."

While satisfied with its convenience, I will examine the maps that have emerged.

Then I was able to find one obviously strange reaction.

Such a funny reaction, like blurry, like magic hitting something but not firmly coming back.

And once I got off the ground, I decided to grow wings and fly in that direction.

"Race, I'm going first! Come in the same direction!

"Okay!

gliding like ripping through the darkness of the night.

Then I found a place in the woods where the landscape was only slightly distorted.

The black trees sway, as if the landscape on the water sways in the wind.

... Is this the 'Mirage Castle' of the Light Demon?

You did. Was Lue also extremely light attributed?

Positions form a magic guide. The effect probably created a hiding place that was difficult to find from elsewhere.

I got off to the ground and tried to reach for that phantom.

But... the thing that got to my ear...

"I don't like it anymore... I don't like being seen like that"

Small voice.

Trembling voice.

When you jump into the midst of breaking through the phantom, its little back shakes in a vicious way.

Gently kneel behind her and hug her.

"Lue, there is no one here anymore, because there is no..."

"Not... not...? Is everyone gone?

"I'm here. There's also Reis. It's okay, because there's no one to torment you."

Oh - how stupid I was.

In her arms, her body trembling small. Thin shoulders, fine arms.

So much, I'm shaking my little body.

You idiot, I'm a big idiot.

Whatever the outcome, I should have always been with you.

What hostilities, what national opponents. What a day I had. What do you care about people's eyes?

All of it, all of it. If this were to happen...

When you make that determination, in your arms, Rhue's tremor grows louder.

It's okay, I'm here. There's only me and Rhue here anymore.

"... oh, probably the limit. Give me a break..."

"Oh, I get it. Now you should just stay put and sleep a little. I'll be here when I wake up."

"Oh well... then I'll just give you a little rest again. When you're feeling better... we'll have another adventure together..."

I look up at the sky as I hug my quiet sleeping lue.

...... bad, Dalia, shun. It is this beloved who should take precedence now.

I don't care what you do anymore.