After returning to the castle with Lil and En, I rolled back into the throne room and wound up in the dungeon dwellers who were looking at me curiously.

"You guys!　Don't ever come outside today!　We all need to be in one place!

"Gee, husband, what's going on?

"There's a bad guy out there!　I'm sorry, Leffi, but this one is out of control, no matter how much I try to do!　Give me a hand--

　Moving my mouth, I manipulated the dungeon functions and used all the DP I could find to set up new traps - and then Reffi, who was inside, put her hand on my shoulder with a pop.

"Wait, Yuki. Wait, Yuki. You're talking about this mighty powerhouse that just appeared in the magical forest a few minutes ago, aren't you?

"Oh, yeah!　You sensed it too. There's probably some kind of disaster in the woods!　For some reason, they're coming straight to this castle!

Yuki, I think I know this person.

So, we have to do something now - what?　What?

　I stopped operating the dungeon function and turned to face Leffi.

"I know him. Yes, but not the old Giuoger - that weak-witted black dragon you killed. He's a decent old friend. There's no killing each other, so settle down.

"You can trust ......?

You don't believe me?

　With a grin and a slow grin, I regained my composure and shook my head.

...... . There's nothing I believe more than what you say.

"Huh, isn't it?　But even if something happens to you, I'll take care of you and protect you from your worries and cowardice, so don't worry.

"That's ...... indeed, that's reassuring.

　I was absent-mindedly relieved to see Leffi laughing and patting me on the head as if to soothe me, I closed the trap control screen with a wry smile and put my hand down.

...... So, you're a friend of yours, ...... what kind of guy are you?

"Hmmm ...... is a mystery, that's the only word for it.

What?

It's true that they are old friends, but they were not particularly close to each other. I don't know him that well, really, because I've known him for a while, but I don't know him that well.

"Oh, ...... I see.

　Are you sure you're just an acquaintance?

As far as I know, ...... he hasn't eaten or drunk anything at first. He doesn't have a body.

"...... I'm getting 50 percent more suspicious of your acquaintance at once in my mind.

　No food, no drink, no body, or ...... can it be called a living thing?

No, it's like having a body, isn't it?　They are not made up of flesh and blood, such as we are. The closest thing I can think of is ...... 'light with a will'.

"............ Now your explanation of what you're talking about makes him even more of a mystery to me. I mean, I can't imagine it at all.

　It's very much an unknown entity.

And there's no other way. As for him, I don't know what to do with him.

　After saying this as an excuse, Leffi coughed with a cohon and continued speaking.

Anyway, if you're here, I'll greet you. They're probably aware of my presence, so there's no need for you to go out and complicate things.

"Wow, okay. ...... Then let's go out of the cave.

　We decided to ask the dungeon dwellers to stay put, and once we went out to the grassland area to tell our pets that they could lower their vigilance, Leffi and I headed out to the cave.


　　　* * * *


"I remember this sign ......

　I stopped at a nostalgic feeling in the forest.

It's a good thing that ...... the young and my old friends and ...... have a funny thing going on.

　Solé resumed his steps, amused by the fact that all the signs that could be sensed from here were concentrated almost to a point.

　There were no monsters or anything else appearing, as if assimilated into the silence of the forest, a quiet walk.
　The creatures in the vicinity have sensed the presence of a powerful being from outside, and all of them have already fled from the vicinity of the soles.

　You glide through the unobstructed forest, and eventually you come to an open area of trees.

　Ahead is a sheer cliff, a large cavernous hole and ...... a girl carrying enormous power and a young man with an unusual magical quality.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it.

"Before you know it, you've shrunk into a very small size. Dragon, the champion!

"Humph, your stiffness hasn't changed at all since we last met.

　The girl - to Horyu's words, Solé replied with a nonchalant look.

I am the one who does not change. There is no way I can change in a few hundred years. And now, silver dragon. Isn't that too much of a change?

...... I've been through a lot, too.

　So saying, Ha Long gave a small smile and then continued to speak against it.

"More importantly, my lord, this time you appeared out of the blue again, what were you doing here?



"Hmm ...... Before I tell you that, let's exchange a bow first.

　Solé turns his head to the young man standing next to Haryu.

''We meet for the first time. The principal king of the maze - no, the principal king of the maze and (...) the dragon race (・・・・・・・). I am Ig-Drazir. I am Ig-Drazir.

　That's it - the Spirit King bowed slowly and quietly, with only a small bow, and said his name.