So what's on your mind?
'Well...'


　We had come some distance away so that no other humans could hear us. The area around us is covered with trees, but it hides our appearance just fine. And, just in case, I'll deploy the Twilight Sight 《Twilight Sight》.


　--Okay, I don't see any signs of people nearby.


　As soon as I confirm that, I'll hear from Noah.


''About the elven wards, I think those things are beyond the realm of humans after all.
Well, I suppose that's true, but... what else?
''Well I don't know about this kind of thing, but I think the elves are hiding something.
"You're hiding it...
'Yeah. Not some magical, technical thing, but something more fundamental.
How did you come up with that?
'As you know, I was working with the elves to repair the wards. I talked to the elves about a lot of things at the time, but I mean, it was hard to do anything about it. I think they were staring at me. Like they were probing me...
Did he have some kind of magical eye?
'I don't think there's any chance of that happening. That said, I tried to be perceptive at the time, but I didn't really understand it either.
'I see.


　Preconceptions. It is the assumption that elves are not hostile to humans. But there is no proof that they are not hostile to humans. There is no proof that they are not hostile to humans. We were even deceived by the humans on the inside. After that incident, it's never a bad thing to be sensitive to interactions with other species. We need to always assume the worst case scenario.

　And like the Noah case, it seems to be moving strangely fast. Since meeting the elves, they have been interacting smoothly with humans, as if they knew that. That's a sign of friendship........that's how I interpreted it, but after all, Princess Liane and Noah's testimony, and the uncomfortable feeling in my mind.


　That expression on Aries' face. You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them. If it weren't for the incident with Princess Liane and Noah, I would have ignored this story.


　But it's not just me, the fact that other people also feel uncomfortable is probably not a matter that can be ignored. Based on the betrayal of the elves......................we should take care of it first. Just in case. It's better to be prepared. Besides, we can't expose ourselves to blunders like we did with Silas and Claudia.


'Noah, we'll take this to the top.
Okay but will you be able to do it in a pinch, Julia?
You can do it. That's what I'm here for.
I see. I haven't killed a demon or anything yet, but I'll do it when I have to.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Okay.


　Noah nods his head with a cockle. Seeing that small gesture, I remind myself that she is still a young child, but I can't continue to treat her like a child. Because there will surely come a time when I need her strength.



　◇



'....That's all. If you could report back to the top.
Okay. I'll tell you what.
Nice to meet you.


　Yulia bows her head on the spot and leaves. Belle had heard the story from Julia. The content was suddenly hard to believe. It was the possibility that the elves were betraying him. But I have full trust in Yulia and since he said it, there was no way I could ignore it.


　As soon as Belle heard that, she headed to the operations command center. When she entered, she saw the current situation monitored and illuminated on a wall in the back with projection magic. She then spoke to a familiar face there.


''Lianne-sama........''
Bell. I think it's time for bedtime.
It's urgent....we need to talk. Where's the Commander-in-Chief?
He's not here. Let me talk to him.
Please do ... please. So.........the story is about the elf.
It's still that one...
I knew it... you were aware of that?
Yes. I've already spoken to the Commander-in-Chief, but where did Bell get that story?
''Just now........I asked Yulia-kun about it. According to him, even with the totality of his talk with Noah, it doesn't feel right....
Strange?


　Belle spoke. All the details of what was told to Julia. Liane then put her hand to her chin and pretended to be thoughtful.


''Well the matter of Noah, and the matter of Yulia-san, it's a personal experience, but it's probably not something you can ignore. I thought it was strange on our end as well.
It's that meeting after all?
'You can tell because Belle was in on it too, but the other side is responding too quickly. That's what has always bothered me.
Do you think ... you're being lured in?
'We are already looking at that possibility. Also, I've already put some surveillance on the elves in our army, but Belle you know when it's time to go, don't you?
Of course. I'm prepared to cut it down....
Good. That's enough for today. Tomorrow I'll notify all my opponents.
Okay, I understand. Excuse me.


　Belle leaves the operations command center as it is. Looking at the current appearance of Riane, I still think that she is the same person.......and at the same time, I am truly impressed that she has become a dependable person. At first, some people said that it was premature to participate in this operation, but it seems that the fears were completely unfounded.


--But even so, the betrayal of the elves........


　Belle had said earlier that if they were betraying us, if they were opposing humanity, she was prepared to cut them down and throw them away. But that's not strictly speaking, I'm not prepared to do that. It's just that I don't already feel hesitant about killing them. That's all I can say about that as a resolve... but I believe that resolve is based on some kind of conflict. But there is no such thing in Belle.


　Gently, I put my hand on the sword at my waist. How many enemies have I slaughtered with this demon sword, Oboro Moonlight Night, until now? If it's the number of demonic tribes they've defeated, it's already the highest among humanity. No, it's not just Bel. If it was only this Oborozuki Yoru alone, it probably killed the most enemies out of all the weapons in existence. The bearer has been taking over this for a long time. Bell had also received this from his master.


　Oboro Moonlight Night. The pitch-black blade, with a scorching scarlet blade, was completely familiar to Belle. She looks at it again and draws the sword.


''........''


　He silently raises it to the sky. The moonlight, plus the light of the stars, reveals the sword's blade. Oborozukiyo doesn't need to sharpen it. No matter how many enemies it slays, its blade will not be broken. According to the now-deceased Major, this was a type of demonic sword created during the Great Battle of Man and Demon.


　A magical sword. It is a type of lost technology that cannot be reproduced with modern technology. There are a number of products in this world that are known as Lost Technology. The Major told me that the Oborozuki Yoru that Bell has is one of them.


　And he says that this sword still has a hidden ability. He said it was instinctively obvious, but Bell had recently begun to feel it too. There is something sleeping in this sword. Without a doubt......... She remembered thinking that she had arrived at the same realm as him.


''........Major, am I doing well?''


　Ten years. It had been ten years already. But the will he had spun still lay dormant in Bell.


　Bell remembers his past self at that time. That time, his past self. And the glorious days he had spent with the Major.