I can't even think of the words to ask him what this is all about.

　Does Hel realize that I don't exist in this world?
　If so, was your attitude when you first encountered it an act?

　On the contrary, this makes it sound as if Loki and Helu are welcoming me to the world--

You were the ones who dragged us here, weren't you?
'I would like to remind you that neither of us has any ill will. I have been recreated in this world and I have no power to interfere with you in a malicious way.

　I can't believe it innocently enough after being told this.

　But Helle didn't seem to have any intention of convincing me from the start, and without waiting for an answer, she turned on her heel and headed for the back of the house.

'Come this way, please. There's something I'd like you to know.
...... What are you up to?

　There's no reply to my overflowing muttering.

　Instead, my inner alpha zulu urges me to take the invitation.

It's a good idea. There's no better time for both of us.
There's no way we can be so convenient as to just take home the results without risking ...... the choice.

　I decided to follow Helu with my mind made up.

　The inside of the building is a cozy private house itself.

　Of course, there were furniture and contraptions here and there that do not exist in the present day, but they did not seem to have any alchemical uses.

　But that was until the moment we were led to a hidden staircase at the back of the storage room.

'For some time now, Loki, the Creator, has been troubled by his own birth.

　As Hel moves a device embedded in the wall, a section of the storage room floor moves, making vibrations, exposing a hidden staircase hidden under the floor.

With no memory of the past, unable to identify his species by any tests, he is forced to live a solitary existence ...... whose anguish is beyond estimation.
'Lonely?　I'm sure there were plenty of friends. Besides, there were so many different races in this era that it's not surprising that there were some strange ones.
'No, sir. That's not true.

　Hel shook her head without looking back as she led me down the hidden stairs.

'It's because of the numerous races mixed together that people make their own race the cornerstone of their self-definition (identity).
...... is that kind of thing: ......?
In an exclusively human civilization, the fact that you are a human being would have no value, but in this age, it's a crucial element in defining who you are.

　The glow of the magic-powered lights shone suspiciously on Hel's unhealthy skin.

'The Wild Hunters were a valued friend and companion ...... That One said so. But friends and companions are no substitute for kindred spirits.
As for me, it's an idea I don't agree with, but that's how Loki felt and pondered it.
Thank you for your understanding.

　I don't agree with Loki's thoughts, but it's not surprising that someone would see it that way, and it's not something that can be easily dismissed.

　Down a short staircase was a basement filled with materials and experimental equipment that one might intuit that this was an alchemist's workshop.

　Judging from the echoes of voices, it seemed to be a fairly large basement, but the disorderly array of bookshelves and storage cabinets made it difficult to get a good look at them.

　It was somewhat better now that Hel had switched on the light switch, but there was still an eerie atmosphere in the room.

'At first, that gentleman wanted to reveal his origins and race through the search for life. It was all due to this that he chose to master alchemy, and that he chose the creation of life, rather than mainstream elemental transformation, as the subject of his research.
I created you guys in the process. ......
'As you may have guessed. However, alchemy did not give the man what he wanted.

　A few steps away from the light switch, Helu stopped unexpectedly and turned around.

'By the way, do you know the cause of the so-called demon outbreak, sir?
...... demons are organisms that use magic as a bodily function, and they can be born that way, or they can be altered after being exposed to high concentrations of magic ...... right?
"It seems to me that the ideal solution is one that can't be overlooked.

　I'm not bright enough in this area of academia to have a simpler explanation than this, even though Gandalf was the recipient of it.

　When I was wondering what the point of this question was, Helu asked me more questions that I couldn't understand.

'Then, do you know what that One created and caused the destruction of the present civilization?
The medallions are probably the monsters they produce. You're a divine beast, the one that can communicate with humans. What do you want to hear about this?
So, do you think that ...... demon(s) beasts(s) and(s) are(s) demon(s) things(s) and(s) are(s)?
...... It's .......

　My intuition tells me that it's 'different'.

　I've faced a number of demonic beasts in my life, and I've come across many more in my fifteen years as an adventurer.

　That experience had caused me to appeal to an unreasonable sense of denial against equating demonic beasts with ordinary demons.

''It's different ...... I think so. A demon is simply an animal that uses magical power, but a demon beast is substandard. You don't think it's a straightforward creature to be revived by a chunk of metal like a medallion, do you?　...... Why are you laughing?

　There was a smile on Helu's face, the right half of which was hidden.

　It wasn't a smile of the kind that was amused or mocking or anything like that.

　It was a smile that could only be thought of as a smile of happiness - a smile that could only be thought of as such.

'Excuse me. I just couldn't help but feel happy that our guest understood what happened to that gentleman so well.
Thank you for that. So, ......, what the hell are you trying to say?
Loki, the Creator, pondered his identity and in his quest, he created the Medallion. Please see it in light of that from here on out.

　Hel paced again, heading to the far end of the basement.

　There, which seemed to be a dead end, was a thick metal door that stood in the way, but Hel's manipulations caused it to open up effortlessly.

　Immediately after, the air with an inexplicable odor flooded out.

　Is it moldy (mildew), burnt, or fishy?

　It's not unbearable, but you can't help but be frightened if you inhale it by surprise.

'Our guests were able to relive the two battles in which that gentleman participated. Of course, those are reenactments that we have provided because they were necessary.

　Hel stepped into the room without changing his expression and urged me to follow him.

　The interior walls of the hidden room were filled with strange contraptions and devices.

　I don't know what they are, and I don't think I'll ever be able to operate them properly.

　And although I couldn't make out what was inside due to the dimness, it looked as if there was a full container of glass lined up at eye level.

"Please take a look at this one first,

　Hel operates a switch to light up the glass containers.

　In the dimly lit hidden room, a light green light illuminates a large number of containers from the inside.

　My gaze is drawn to one of them, the largest container.

　Inside the liquid-filled container, a single boy and a girl - no, from this distance I can assure you it's a girl - a human-like thing, curled up like a baby, floats up and I'm there.

　It was as if my spine had been pierced by an ice stake.

　This is what was sleeping at the bottom of the magic-collecting tower, which I discovered when I recreated my memory earlier.

　But then I realized. I've come to realize an unbelievable fact.

　Just as I was assumed to be Loki, and Noir and the others were assumed to be bounty hunters, this one was filled with someone I knew.

...... Garnett!