--just as the search base of the fourth level of The Ark of the Elements was reaching completion.

　Noir of the White Wolf Shop was visiting the Silverwing Knights' facility set up in Green Hollow Town by herself.

　Normally, when she visited these facilities, she would be accompanied by her employer, Luke White Wolf.

　However, today, ...... no, not only today, but when visiting this facility, it was the norm to make an exception to visit alone.

　Not on business, not on command.
　Because it is an action with a very personal motive.

'Oh, um, .......'
'Oh, Mr. Noir. I'll be with you in a moment. I'll go check on the status of the meeting.

　The knight at the entrance guessed his errand as soon as he saw Noir alone, and went back to the back of the chapter without needing to be briefed.

　Then, after a short pause, he turned back with an indescribably puzzled expression on his face.

''Well, sir, I'm afraid the earlier guest is in the face ...... and Noir-san has asked if you would like to join us for a chat.
"...... first customer ...... that might be ......
'This is Sir Ambrose. We were having some kind of professional conversation. ......
Ya, I knew it: ......!

　As soon as Noir heard the name, he rushed the knight on duty to his cell.

　This is an imprisonment facility under the control of the Silver Wing Knights.

　The person she wanted to visit was her own sister - Bran of the Magic Gorge.

　She was once a prisoner of the Demon King Gandalf, along with the brave Falcon, and was imprisoned for cooperating with the Demon King's army.

　I'm not sure if I'm right or wrong, but I'm not. I am currently imprisoned in this facility as part of my punishment.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make the most out of your time with us.

　It's not just a matter of time before you're able to get your hands on a new one.

...... Bran ......!
'Oh, sister. You never get tired of coming back.

　Stepping into the cell, which is newly built and therefore small and clean in every nook and cranny, a voice is thrown through the visiting bars that often passes through the visiting bars.

　The owner of the voice - Bran, whose white hair is the opposite of his sister, Noir, and her lifelike face, gave a mocking smile to Noir as she popped into the visiting space.

　It's not that he's actually mocking her, but this is the same behavior as usual.

　Yes, Bran is nothing different from normal.

　Contrary to Noir's concern, Bran didn't seem to feel any threat even in the face of Lord Ambrose, who covered his bare face and bare skin.

''Your impatience, you seemed to think I was going to do a bad imitation.
No, no, no, no, no, no. ......
Don't worry. I'm not bringing in any fancy work.

　Lord Ambrose, seated in a chair on this side of the cage across from Bran and the cage, leaned back and turned his face - though his hood and front droop concealed his bare face - to Noir.

　Noir has long wondered if he can see things when his face is hidden by the front droop, but he has never seen him have trouble with his vision before.

　At least he is not acting without hindrance though he can't see, although his vision seems to be functioning properly even in this state.

I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's going on in the world," he said. I'm not sure if it's completely unrelated to ....... In any case, I guarantee you can be proud of it as an achievement.

　As he said this, Lord Ambrose moved one hand to urge her to look at Bran instead of herself.

　White skin. Long, white hair. The white robe that was custom made for prisoners.

　He seemed to be dressed the same as he was for his usual visits, ...... but on closer inspection, he was clearly uncomfortable.

...... Oh. Left, my arm is ......

　Bran's left sleeve, seated in a chair in his cell, swelled out clearly enough to be seen from the entrance.

　Bran had lost his left arm in the decisive battle at the Demon King's Castle.

　Naturally, the left sleeve of the prisoner's robe should be hanging slackly, but today, there was a medium(-) body there.

''That's ...... bran, what the hell .......''
A friend of mine asked me to do a favor for him.

　It was Lord Ambrose, not Bran, who answered Noir's puzzled question.

I've been working with one of the wizards in Sui-eye who is researching a way to replace a lost limb. I've been contracted to test a prototype of it.
You see? It's a good job.

　Bran rolled up his sleeve to expose the man-made left arm.

　It was an artifact as smooth as ceramic, with joints of doll-like structure in the same position as a human, and they seemed to move according to Bran's will.

I'm also taking a different approach to the same research topic, and we're very much in tune with each other. See, there have been so many wars over the years that it's not unusual for someone to lose an arm or a leg or two, isn't it?　If the demand is high, it's easy to get funding ...... and this is irrelevant.
I'm sure it would be better to let the wounded knight try it out, but since it's a prototype, I hear there are many problems with it. I'm sure you'll be able to find out what's wrong with it while you're testing it, because I have the knowledge and skills in magic. Are you convinced?

　Noir's gaze shifted between Lord Ambrose and Bran, who opened their mouths in turn, with a pouting look on her face.

　But she quickly regained her composure with a huff, and pointed out a point that, for her part, was reasonably loud and could not be overlooked.

'...... here, this is like ...... Agart Ram's, an automaton ......!
Yeah, you're absolutely right.

　Sir Ambrose easily affirmed that point in full.

''He is also a knight of high rank in his own right. He has made great progress in his research by obtaining parts of the wreckage of the Night Ripper and the doll that attacked the neutral city of the second level (Asropolis)," he said.

　Lord Ambrose annotated that it was a legitimate procurement, of course, based on due process, and then turned his face back to Bran again.

'Well, how do you feel about using it?
'It's not bad. 'It's not so bad. For a game with so many glitches, I think the magical system is quite complete. It's more the physical structure that's the problem. Especially around the joints: ......

　Bran opened and closed his left hand in front of his face a few times before tucking a tuft of hair behind his ear with his fingertips, as supple as a real hand.

'I see. I suppose I should ask Chief Engineer Alexia to help me with that for now. Improving the joint structure is rather the province of elaborate technology.
Can you help us? You're a busy man, aren't you?
They will. I have proof. After all, if we make a modified version, it will complement our Knight Commander's right hand.

　Creaking the back of his chair, Lord Ambrose looked up at the blue sky with his eyes on the cell window.

'I suppose you could say this is another human quality. It's something I have a fundamental lack of. I envy you.'

Hearing those words, Noir felt for the first time that he felt something like humanity towards Ambrose.

'...... Luke ......'

　Noir thought about the man who was still packed underground and clasped his hands tightly to his chest.

　Although the men had not yet returned from the fourth level, the fact that they had successfully completed the construction of the base and that there were some unexpected accomplishments, although they could not be announced at present, had been conveyed to the ground ahead of time.

　And in return for that achievement, Luke White Wolf temporarily let go of his right arm.

　I am not so much worried about the loss of my arm as I am about the fact that I lost it.

　It was emphasized that it was not an unfortunate loss but a deliberate decision, and we were told that if the situation goes well, he should be able to return properly, and yet if it's his [restoration], we have the trust of .......

　The cause of Noir's heartburn, the
　It's the presence of unknown events that await us in the future.

　Even if the details of what happened underground are kept under wraps, there is no doubt that the situation is moving violently.

　Although I'm aware of the fact that I'm not entirely theoretical - Noir couldn't help but think that the supposedly delightful new technology of 'an artificial arm based on an automatic doll's body' was also a foreshadowing of too great a change in circumstances.










　--The fact is that this world is on the verge of a major transformation.

　The humans who live in this land still don't dream of it, while the man who hid in the depths of the earth foresees its coming.

　The Demon King Gandalf - the king of the dark elves who knows the ancient magical civilization.

　The king, who was imbued with dignity, intimidation, and an immense amount of magical power that made the souls of those who looked at him shrivel up where they stood, but now he had a somewhat calm, even serene, expression on his face.

''My nameless friend. Your heir to your power and Fenrir's household, the one who killed you, are now in one place. I don't believe in fatalism, but I can't help but feel a sense of fate in this.

　The deepest part of the unexplored area - the furthermost part of the deepest level of the Ark of the Elements.

　On an altar illuminated only by the light pouring from the ceiling, the remains of an old spear are enshrined.

　The intricately shaped point of the spear is more reminiscent of a ritual tool than a weapon, and the metal hilt is snapped off halfway through, so that the length of the spear from the tip to the broken part alone is as long as a man's height.

　Gandalf gave the wreckage a gentle look that he didn't want his subordinates to hear, and he let out a mutter that he didn't want anyone to hear.

'How far have you been reading the future, Gandalf? Or was it all a coincidence?　Or are you saying that even entrusting me with this spear was part of your plan ......? Answer me, Alfazul.