"Hey Harold, that's..."

"It fits the character of the people you're looking for."

"You solved it quickly."

……

Harold was still silent. What timing makes me want to curse something called destiny.

It's the worst development I can think of, showing up in front of the liners in a place like this. Is there any way to disappear now?

I think about that unexpectedly, but if I had time for that, I probably should have run away without worrying. But in the end, before I move it into action, they realize this one exists.

"Ah, brother. Just in the right place..."

That's what I said, and it was no other Erica who stopped the words with Harold in her eyes. Apparently he was dealing with the liners in front of the gate. Harold illusions that God is already coming to kill him for something paranormal. But that, too, would have been all the more true if you had considered possession of Harold Stokes, beloved by the death flag.

Fished by Erica's words, the liners look back as well. After a lot of silence, he mouthed Harold's name with joyful faces.

"Harold Doe!"

Reiner, the Lord of Voices, comes running over here waving his hand.

With that figure on his ass, Harold gave instructions so that Reefa could only hear him.

"Reefa"

"What?

Don't tell them anything about my life.

"... ok"

Reefa accepted the request, although she seemed dissatisfied. If you could even protect this, you would be able to prevent extra information from leaking from Reefer.

The problem is with Erica and Colette, and this situation where I am in alignment. Liner should also move on the assumption that he is informed of the connection between Colette and Harold's past. It is very bad to be informed by these two of Erica of Harold's act of saving Amerail parents and children. I've stopped talking for a while, but that was eight years ago, and the liner threatens to spill it in the first place.

In addition, Hugo has not shown his face, but his voice is heard perfectly. Above all, the bad mouth that is good at this incitement will not be so forgettable. There is also a danger that the man of Robe and Harold, whom we met at the ruins of Heybar, will be spotted as the same person in Hugo, not to mention if the liner is told that he was imitating a burglar in a robe, etc., this will also make the conversation more difficult.

It's still good enough to make a mistake on the better side, but on the other hand, there's a chance you'll get caught in that trilogy play. If that happens, hostilities will be whole.

Smeragi's mansion instantly turned into a demonic realm where a hell of a correlation diagram was built for Harold. Just thinking about how to get through this situation was breaking my heart.

"You, what are you doing here?

"I'm chasing him and the others, and he's regulated and he can't cross the mountain. That's why I came to get permission directly..."

Don't even take the weak mood for a bite, check the liners' trends first. The contents were as originally written, even after the troika of robes, the regulated area due to impatience is stuck in the way.

It is also possible to bypass a regulated mountain because it is different from a game that cannot be advanced on the system, but I do not know how the liner feels about something that cannot be broken if we consider it to be a far-off on a month-by-month basis.

"It doesn't seem like a gentle conversation. Can you let me hear it too?"

"Eh, you..."

"My name is Itsuki. Erica's brother there, once the second greatest man in this house."

"So can you let me through!?

"Let's talk to you to judge that. Come on up."

Encouraged to do so, the liners were also invited to the Smeragi mansion. A total of eight, seven including Inner Harold, is a great situation for fans of the original character. From Harold's point of view, it's not accumulated, but I'm still not going to pinch the complaint because my attention to myself has deviated slightly, and most importantly, this is a discussion that will be needed for the future.

A gaze of truth is piercing me from someone with no heart or Erica, but I'll ignore it for now.

It was the first twenty tatami too spacious Japanese-style room that Harold was to face Erica eight years ago.

Itsuki sits on the upper seat of a wooden desk in the room. From that Itsuki, Erica, Harold, Reefa and Francis lined up on the right hand side, with three liners, Colette and Hugo sitting opposite each other. Yuno's brewed tea went to all of them, swallowed it for a bite and moistened his throat before Itsuki cut it out.

"Well, let's start by introducing ourselves. My name is Itsuki Smeragi. He is the next head of the Smeragi family, and Harold and I have been friends for ten years."

From Liner and Colette, ooh, the exclamation. And from Reefa, next to me to the right, he groans like a stunner: "No..." Both were reactions to the phrase that they were Harold's friends.

What kind of eyes are you looking at me. I wanted to say, you guys, but if you think objectively, it might rather be natural.

"... my name is Erica and I'm Itsuki's sister"

"And I'm also Harold's fiancée"

Itsuki relentlessly punches the information Erica intentionally conceals. Harold felt the cold air drifting from the heartless or Erica. I also wanted to argue with you as Harold, but I don't feel like the pressure Erica releasing next to me is too heavy to pinch my mouth.

Above all, the air is tingling, so Harold challenges himself to introduce himself, wondering if it is necessary to get away from this topic as soon as possible, although I don't feel comfortable.

It's Harold Stokes.

Termination. This behavior is pointless because talking about other things doesn't make a lot of sense, and I'm almost familiar with the people in this place in the first place. They also know about Harold to the extent that they don't raise their dissatisfaction with introducing themselves just by such a name.

Hugo, the only one who was supposed to be unfamiliar, had a surprised look on his face. Probably because I remember my voice and tone. Maybe I shouldn't talk much.

Harold assumes he won't open his mouth any more. Reefa follows.

"It's Reefa Goodridge. It was Harold's escort who came here."

"What escort?

"I haven't heard any details either, so refreshing. I was just about to help you find them."

Reefa shrugs her shoulders to the liner question and returns so. It would help as Harold if he didn't say too much extra, but I had to believe Reefa's additions and subtractions because I didn't have time for a meeting.

The introduction continues intact and it is Francis' turn next.

"I'm Francis J. Arklight! A true prince with the right to inherit the throne!

"The right of inheritance is thirty-seventh."

"You wouldn't have to say that there!?

A relentless cling enters from Itsuki. It's called Erica's time, and he's definitely a convict around getting a good pinch of something you don't have to say. It's not that I can't read the air, it's that I'm doing it deliberately after reading it. The aim is only known to the person.

"Thirty-seven will not inherit the throne unless there is a natural mutation."

(You'll wake up if you stay like this...)

Harold sighs inside. Anyway, the continent itself is in danger of sinking.

In that case, Francis will not take the throne after all because the right to inherit the throne will no longer be at this level, but well, he should not care enough to say that he is not so obsessed with being a prince either.

"Then you're next."

Turn the water towards the liner blocking Francis' protest.

"I say Liner Griffith! Harold and I are friends, but it's also a goal..."

"That set a high goal again."

"I guess catching up with this guy won't be possible with a lot of effort."

Itsuki and Francis, who know Harold's irrational ability to fight on his own, nod yeah deeply.

As for Harold, the liner's gonna be as strong as he is. I've never been over that, but it would be cruel to just want that. As a character, Harold's strength now consists of the technology he drilled and the information he accumulated as a player.

It's not the difference you can manage overnight.

Then for some reason, where the three of us were about to thrive on Harold's strength, a halt from Erica enters, and once again the attention is drawn to Colette.

"This is Colette Amerail. With the liner's childhood tame, uh..."

Colette's gaze swims. I wondered if it was directed towards Harold, and then it flowed towards Erica.

I know the meaning of the gaze directed at me. You wanted to tell Harold with an eye for his will that he wasn't going to talk about past events. I know I suck at hiding things and there's something about it, but I can still feel relieved that I'm drawing on Harold's intentions.

The problem is a meaningful gaze directed towards Erica. There should be no such thing as this time being the first meeting between the two. Harold, who thought so, hears words that he will not listen to at the next moment.

"Erica's friend…"

Afraid, that's what Colette said. Needless to say Harold's eyes dotted.

Suppressing the urge to inquire what it means, Harold turns to Erica sitting next to him on the left. Erica had a mixed look of awkwardness and giving up.

It was surprising for her to look like that, but it somehow conveys that Colette's words today were more unwelcome to Erica than that.

But it's not there that matters. It was a bigger problem for Harold that Erica and Colette were already known friends.

When, where and why. I don't know anything about that, and the worst prediction goes through Harold's brain. Didn't they know about themselves and Colette's past? I suspected so, Harold, but no. I stopped for cheap thoughts.

(I don't think that... Probably)

I can't say for sure, but if Erica knew what Harold did in the past, the situation would not be what it is today. It's going to be paradoxical logic, but in view of Erica's character, you should be able to assume that she hasn't found out inside that she hates you.

Besides, she wouldn't have easily exposed that secret based on the eye-openings from Colette earlier. It could be counterproductive to react in a hurry here. Harold regains his composure as he takes a small, deep breath.

"... Long time no see. Dear Collet."

"Dear God, no! Colette is fine!

"So what about Mr. Colette?

"Yes! So please!

Where did the expression go until just now, Erica said so with a soft smile that attracted the beholder. The speed of switching around here can be described as boulder.

And for what it's worth to be friends, Colette looks nervous about the bees. I guess it's not the first time we meet, but it's enough to rub it gently with honor, so I guess there's very little intimacy per se.

So I don't know why we're friends. Relationships are a mystery.

"It's me at the end. I'm Hugo Grafton. I'm an adventurer. He's with the liners... well, he's the one who's going to make it."

"If you're an adventurer, aren't you aware of the danger of entering a regulated area?

"Of course I know... honestly, you can't snort hard at that inquiry"

Remember the mistake at the ruins of High Bar, Hugo scratches his head like a bump. For that moment, Harold didn't miss stealing this one.

Maybe if they found out it was the robe guy from that time. All the matters of concern increase at an accelerating rate. With that, I feel Harold's spirit has been exhausted, heartless or even stomachache.

On this occasion, only the tea Yuno had brewed was Harold's healing.

"Hmm, apparently for some reason. Harold, by the way."

"... what?

"What was the reason I was looking for the liners? Sounds like a known friend. Maybe you know what's going on with them.

Itsuki's wisdom eye often amazes me, but most humans will think there together about this one. It is only fitting that I think so because it was too well timed to meet.

"Oh, I know"

And even as Harold, I was going to disclose as much information as I could when I got here. Take this place to the border to solve the problem of qi and form the original party, and to make known the existence of Justus Freund, the root of all evil.

To prepare you for the deadly battle that you will visit in the next few months.

Fearing at the fact that this choice, which could dramatically change the flow of the original, may shape the end of the world.

Still, Harold took it believing that this was a necessary step to survive.

"And I'll show you the most efficient solution on that. Itsuki."

"What?

"The chi that is occurring in Smeragi territory. What would you do if I told you I could stop it altogether?