Wake up. I wake up with a snap and leave the simple tent. I have less than two hours of sleep, but my brain doesn't show any signs of fatigue. But my brain doesn't show any signs of fatigue. My physical performance is normal. As I was getting ready to march again today, I met a guy from the same squad. I decided to take this opportunity to talk to him.


'Good morning,'
"....!　Good morning, Commander!
Good morning, Commander Curtis!


　When I greet them, they respond to me with a salute. Even though they are more than a year older than I am, they respond to me in a manner that is completely superior to their superiors. After that incident, not only was my rank in the rank of zero, but my rank was changed to lieutenant colonel. However, I don't feel that way. The only thing that I have is a solid will to fight in this world. But that doesn't mean I'm not aware of my rank. It's because I'm a superior officer that I have to deal with it in a certain way.


''We're going to go to level 3 today. Make sure you're well prepared.
Ha!


　That's all we talk about, and they just leave. Apparently there is still a rift between me and the rest of the squad. It's not that I want to be friends with them, but it's a little depressing to feel like I'm being avoided like this. When I was so depressed, I was able to put all my weight on it from behind.


''Oops........''


　I handled it lightly and glanced at my opponent's face.


''Yo, Yulia. It's been a long time.
Nick?
Oh. Growing up?　You've grown taller.
Yes.


　We haven't seen each other in years. Ensign Nick Bream. He was one of the few anti-magicians who treated me normally in the Seventh Ward City. He wasn't in my platoon, so I didn't notice him, but he seemed to be taking part in this operation.


''I didn't expect Yulia to reach the rank of zero in the special class anti-magician hierarchy. Everyone in the squad was surprised, huh?
Ha ha, well, it's a long story.



　Nick smirks. I kind of miss this exchange as well.


''Lieutenant Colonel, well I don't really feel it, but...''
Don't be so sure. There are people who want to be an officer, but they can't.
Right. Speaking of which, what platoon is Nick in?
I'm with the Fourth Platoon.
Gil's with the captain, isn't he?
Yeah. It's a lot of fun to be around.


　As the two of us were talking about it, it was almost time to meet.


''Time........''
Yes.
So long, Julia. Next time we meet, let's get something to eat. With all the guys from the last squad.
Yeah. I'm looking forward to it.


　With that, we split up and headed to our respective platoon assembly points.


　◇


It's funny...
'Well that's funny...'
What's so funny?


　Me and Mr. Bell felt uncomfortable. Noah, on the other hand, questioned his words. To him, who was new to twilight, he wouldn't know anything about it, but we, who had a lot of experience in this place, had sensed a definite change.


''No demons........''
''Yeah ... not at all ... Yulia-kun, how is the search for the enemy with the Twilight Sight?''
'No response. But if you're not here so far, that's strange...
Yeah I don't know what's going on.


　Yes. We had come all the way to the danger zone level 2, but there were none. There are no monsters left in the danger zone. Normally, when you get to level 2, there are always more demons lurking around. But now there aren't any demons left. Come to think of it, yesterday's Scorpion was also strange. It was as if it was running away from something and was coming towards us. Could this be.........


''Hey, Julia-san. I'm not going to be able to get to know you. What is this?
"...?　This...?
What is it, Noah?


　Noah is staring into the void. And the other members of the squad also stopped and looked in the direction that Noah was pointing at, but........there was nothing to be seen. I tried to search for the enemy with the Twilight Eye 《Twilight Sight》, but there was nothing. Is it just my imagination........


'I see........everyone can't see me.......'
What are you seeing, Noah?


　I've decided to trust his senses. I don't trust him completely yet, but his talent is well-documented. Maybe his perceptual abilities are even better than mine when I awakened as a demon.


''Here, there's a ward.''
Warding?　Mr. Bell, can you perceive it?
No I don't know, I don't know...


　As I'm talking to him, the older man comes from behind and joins him.


'What are you doing?'
Noah says they have a ward. Do you understand, senior?
'No I don't see anything but...'
'I see.....can I try to tear it up?
'Just a minute I'm going to ask command and...'


　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work. I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to get permission right away, but I'm going to tell Noah.


It's a good idea. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.
Okay. I'll give it a try, then.


　Then Noah uses magic. Then the warding appears in my perception as well.


I'm not sure if it's a wield. But something so big that I can't perceive it........what is there?
I don't know ... but I don't think it's a good one ... guys, get ready for battle ...


　And 10 minutes later. Noah succeeds in breaking the wards.


''Huh........it's done.
Well I see, it's not as straightforward as it sounds.


　Mr. Bell and I continued onward with me at the top of the list. Then my eyes caught a life force reaction.


Mr. Bell, he's a demon... but what's this reaction?
Is the enemy a demon?
No, this is a subhuman.
'Subhuman?　Do you even know your species?
Yes. This is probably an elf....
'Elves?　Here in this place...?
Yes. Definitely.


　The information I got from Twilight Sight. That was that the opponent was a sub-human. Furthermore, it was that it was an elf. The information about the subhuman was clear from looking at the elemental form and the Personal Field. On top of that, I could even recognize the shape of the opponent. Long ears and greenish hair. It was close to human, but never human...it was definitely an elf.


　This is a race that has had no contact with humans since the Human-Magic War 150 years ago. However, they had not been enemies since that time. The elves have always proclaimed their neutrality since the past, but when they were caught up in the Man-Monitorial War their existence became unknown. They were either alive or dead in a world ruled by twilight, and it was impossible to tell which was which. He hadn't expected it to be so close to him.


'Shall we go?'
Yeah. If the chief is here, he wants you to go talk to him.
You're early. Princess Riane?
Yeah ... okay, let's go ...


　The first platoon continued on, and there was a simple village. It was not wealthy, but there were several small houses there, and the one waiting for me with a weapon at the ready was still.......an elf.


''Humans!''
Not a witch?
People, take up arms!


　


''You guys, put down your weapons. Don't use magic either.


　Eira-senpai cleaves her right hand to the side and releases the magic that was about to be activated.


''Wha........?''
What is it, she's a witch?
No, quick, quick, get the chief in here!


　Although they are in a great deal of panic, they have sensed that we are not trying to kill them, and are gradually calming down.


"Humans........I never thought the time would come for us to see each other.......


　And an old elf coming from the back. That is probably the chief of this village....

　We encounter the sub-humans, but this is the first time for us. Interaction with other races.........will it work or not?