Just as we were about to leave the elven village, we sensed someone coming towards us. The figure was ... it was Aries.


'Aries, what's wrong?'
'Yulia-san I don't know what to say to that. Thank you so much for everything, really, from everything. I.........If I hadn't met Yulia-san, I'm sure I would have given up and died by now. So, thank you so much........for giving me the courage, the courage to live. That's what I wanted to say.
... well. Then it was good for me too.
Miss Julia....
Eh....


　


'Hey, haven't you forgotten we're here?'
''Well, you know, I haven't forgotten about it, senpai...''
....


　The older man was staring at me intently. Eve is also twirling her hair, but occasionally glances at me.


　--Uh, that's oddly scary....


　Of course I don't care about that, but for now, I have to say goodbye to Aries and head over right away.


''Aries. After this mission is over, I'll show you the human city.
Yes I'm looking forward to it.
I'll see you later...
Yes. Good luck....


　He gave me a full smile, but there was no longer the same faintness there as before.



''........''
"Seniors,
What....?
'Well I mean there's nothing else going on with Aries, or, well...'
Nothing?　And it doesn't matter if Julia is having a good time with the elven woman or not?　And you don't care?　Hmm....
Wait, wait, wait, wait.


　All the way to the first base of operations, the senpai was like this all the way to the first base of operations. Then, when he reached the base, he went straight to the operations center with his stubby feet.


''Yulia-kun is........that.
Yes, Miss Eve?
My head is not going to get any better. My future is going to be up a woman's ass.
Well, I'm afraid so.
Hmm.....
What's so funny?
Nothing?　Well I just thought it was kind of... cute...
Is she pretty...
Well, anyway, we're going to have to...
Yes, sir.


　I tapped myself lightly on the cheek again. Many things have happened, but the upcoming battle will surely be an important one. And this will be the first large-scale battle of this operation. Once again, I changed my mind and headed to the base of operations with Yves.



　◇




I think we're all here. Now, I'd like to brief you on the general nature of this operation.


　When the special class anti-magicians and the first class anti-magicians from each unit were also present, we were briefed by Princess Liane.


We are currently based in these three locations.


　The current situation projected on the monitor. Based on that, Princess Liane continues to speak.


The first and second strongholds have made considerable progress, and there are currently many anti-magicians stationed there. However, just now, the third base was attacked by demons.


　Nearly everyone gasps. Probably only a few of us knew this from the beginning. Of course, we didn't know any of that information either. The Elf Village is built right next to the second base, but the third base is located rather far away. It's fortunate that they didn't come to the second base while we were breaking the spell, but still.......a good number of dead anti-magicians seem to have died.


According to reports from the field, the third platoon managed to repel the attackers, but there were more than ten wounded. There were about five dead.


　Five dead. I know it's not much, but still, I always feel guilty when there are sacrifices. We knew that there would be sacrifices in this battle. We knew that, and we swore an oath to become soldiers and fight in this dusk. I'm sure there's no end to being upset about something like this, but there's a part of me that isn't fully aware of it.


　I thought that this attack was probably related to the incident we broke the curse on. The whole story is that we tried to attack the second base in terms of timing, but it was prevented at the third base.


'This raid, perhaps the timing was simultaneous with the breaking of the curse in the Elf village. Perhaps it may have been because they were disbelieving that the curse 《Curse》 was not activated, but that move allowed us to get the location of the opponent. See this way.


　Princess Leanne indicated her fingertips, and a bright red dot appeared on one of the monitors.


'I observed it an hour ago. It was just before the attack, and this is probably the enemy's headquarters. Furthermore, this monitor doesn't give us a three-dimensional location, but my sense is that this could be underground.


　Underground, huh? The reason there were no demons was because they had all moved underground?

　But still, why was the other party in the basement in the first place? Why did they attack now? I didn't know the details of the performance of the Curse, but wasn't it that accurate?


　And so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on, and so on.


　Strike the enemy's base. That's all we have to do.



''Then I will tell you the strategy for this time. The first platoon will take the lead and go straight into the basement to defeat the Huge Scorpion 《Huge Scorpion》. The rest of the platoon will be responsible for defeating the leaking demons. Roughly speaking, this is what it looks like, but to give you further details--



　Then more details were given from there. The time for our first platoon to go in. And what to do in case the first platoon failed, or if another platoon failed to function, what to do. Various cases were envisioned and we were told what to do in each case. Of course, the battlefield would change from time to time. Of course, the battlefield changes from time to time, and it's best to assume that things will never go as we envisioned. But when that happens, the survival rate on the battlefield will be improved if we know how we are going to act in advance.


　We finished the general briefing and decided to take a break. However, the time to start the operation is twelve hours from now. Since it's 7pm now, the operation will start at 7am the next day.


　Thus, the first mission in the twilight was to begin in earnest. At this time, I had nothing to worry about, and this is how many members we have. There was no way we would lose. I was somewhat optimistic. However, I had no way of knowing that I was wrong.



　◇



Bell, wait a minute.
Yes, Lady Liane?


　As Bell leaves the operations command center, Liane calls out from behind him.


'Here, for you,'
A pendant, sir?
Yes, sir. 'It's your birthday, isn't it?　I tried to mimic what Belle gave me ten years ago. Doesn't it look a lot like it?


　As Riane said this, the pendant she pulled out of her pocket was indeed very similar to the one Belle had given her ten years ago.


''It's like........matching........''
'Yes. I made some time and spent a little bit of time on it, how do you like it?
'I like it very much ... can I put it on right now ...?
Yeah. Here, let me turn it on for you.


　Riane walks behind Belle and puts the pendant around her neck as she sits back slightly. And when she saw that Belle had put it on, Riane smiled at her.


'This is the only birthday present I have for you but when we get back, why don't we have some cake together?
Did you make this by yourself, Lady Liane?
'Of course!　Now that I've got some good chestnuts, I think I'm going to make a chestnut cake.
''Hmmm.......that's very exciting.......''


　Belle wasn't a big fan of sweetness, but she only liked the cakes made by Liane, no matter what they were. Riane says she wants to open a cake shop in the future. It is Belle's dream to support that dream one day.


　--The two of us can make a big cake shop together!


　It's a dream he swore to Liane as a child, and they are serious about making it come true. That's why now we have to free the world from the twilight as soon as possible. And then........if the world is at peace, then the two of them will run a cake shop together for the rest of their lives. This was their dream and their vow.

　It was no surprise that Riane liked cakes, but Belle didn't like to fight them either. If there was a path other than anti-magician ahead of them, it would be good to master the path of sweetness with Riane... or so Belle thinks.


'Belle. I'll be waiting for you.
Yes I'll be back, I promise. Have I ever lied.........?
No, I don't. You've always kept your word. I know you've come back from that dusk. So I'll be waiting for you this time. As always.
Yes, Lady Liane?


　With that, Belle leaves Liane's side. While touching the hazy moonlit night at her waist, Belle switches her attention directly to the battle.


　The scorching flames in her eyes show Belle's certainty in her will.


　Liane, on the other hand, was, to say the least, worried. Indeed, Belle is the strongest swordsman among the best of the anti-magicians. Probably comparable or even better than Julia. Even though his physical peak has passed, Belle's fighting spirit lately has been tremendous, though. That was something that even Riane, who was almost an amateur when it came to combat, knew.


''Bell, martial arts........''


　Riane tells her, and then steps in the opposite direction from Belle. Belle is the strongest swordsman and has never made a mistake in her promise. I'm sure he'll come back, and I believe that--I believe that.