How's it going, Fitis, what's going on over there?

"No, there's nothing here that could lead to Kyou-sama's footsteps in particular. ...... What about you, Lily?

"...... I don't have a clue either. No clue.

　A few days later.
　Lily, Phytis, Shin, and the rest of Kyou's friends have been roaming the desert searching for the missing Kyou.
　But they are still untraceable, and the group wanders through the scorching heat of the desert with the horizon in sight.

I'm sure you'll find that ...... is a bit of a cloud grabber when it comes to finding people in the desert. ......

"But that doesn't mean we should give up. If you're tired, you can go ahead and go back.

"Don't be silly, Miss Lily. What's the point of being a partner if you can't be there for your brother in this situation?

　Even the demon Jack couldn't hide his exhaustion in this hot weather search.
　But that didn't stop them from continuing their search for the past few days.

...... Maybe it's better to think of something to help us search for clues instead of just going around in the dark.

　That was Fitis's impression as she searched for the past few days, but it was something everyone here was feeling.
　But they hadn't found the key hint, and the group was in limbo.
　When they began to wonder what to do next--

"...... Papa

　Suddenly, Locke, who was at Lily's feet, muttered something to himself.

What's up, Rock?

"Feel the presence of Papa ...... ......

　Everyone in the room, including Lily, reacts to Rock's words.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what to expect.　Does that mean Kyou-sama is nearby?

"I don't know ...... but I can feel my dad's presence more than ever before. ...... It's not close, but I know he's closer than ever before.

　That's the only hint of a search that hadn't been available until now, and as if to bite into it Lily suggests.

"Then search by your senses, Rock!

Sure, it may take some time, but you may have a much better chance of finding it than you did.

　Singh nods.
　As if to follow suit, the group rides the coboda they brought with them and tries to start a search in the desert, but Locke himself shakes his head in response.

...... nope. Maybe there's a faster way to do that: ......

"Huh?

　In response to Lily's questioning voice, Locke grabs the hem of it and declares, "I'm going to go to Papa now!

I'm going to go to my dad's--I'm going to my dad's!


◇ ◇ ◇


What do you mean no?" ......

　The manticore remained silent in response to my question.
　Eventually, the words that came out of his mouth were the same as before.

"No, anyway. The boy is going to stay.

　The manticore, which stubbornly tells me only those words.
　But there was some impatience and fear in his eyes. But there was a hint of impatience and fear in her eyes.

"...... Are you maybe ...... lonely?

"............

　The manticore does not answer my questions.
　But here, the silence said it all.

...... Okay.

　Muttering, I look at the boy's face as he falls again.

　Indeed it is, come to think of it.
　This manticore has lost his first child born to his wife.
　Not only that, he lost his wife of many years.
　Now all that's left is this boy.
　Even though he was an unrelated human child, he is now the only family left in the manticore.
　When he's gone, then the Manticore will be truly alone.
　I guess he couldn't bear that fear.
　Maybe that's why she was willing to kidnap me and ask me to save the boy.

...... but the boy can't be saved if things go on like this. Shouldn't we return him to his family once and for all to help him heal?

"............

　Honestly, I think that's an overstatement.
　Still, it's unlikely that she'll get better if she stays here.
　Then take her back to her real family, even if only for a moment.
　Or if Shin--his sister--came here.
　That was the moment I wished.

!　What, what?

?　Light from Space ......!

　One moment the air in the space between me and the manticore wavered, and the next, someone appeared on the scene, as if splitting a dimension.
　No, it wasn't a someone. The ones that appeared from there were the ones I knew.

Dad!

"Rock!

　As soon as he appears here, Locke immediately hugs me.
　The figures on either side of the lock also notice me and smile.

I finally found you. Don't worry about me at all.



Sorry it took me so long to find you, Mr. Keough, but I'm glad you're okay. But I'm glad to see you're okay.

"Lily!　And Shin, too.

　Seeing the two of them, I breathe a sigh of relief.
　It's the first time in a long time that I've seen Lily like this, and seeing her makes me feel more at ease.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of where you are.

Yes, I did. Locke sensed your presence and made the transition because of it. But it seems that others can't transfer unless they hold on to Locke, so that's why I came with Shin and I.

　I see. I knew it.
　Last time I went to Earth, Dad told me that Semargul's ability was the ability to travel through time and space, so it's not surprising that Locke, whose blood is in his veins, can do the same thing.
　In fact, Locke developed his ability during the battle against the emperor.

.

　As I look, I see that Lily and Shin, who have transposed to this place, notice the manticore behind them and raise their weapons against it.
　But as soon as I saw them, I immediately stepped forward to stop them.

"Hey, wait a minute!

"Why is it that you're in the way, Keogh?

　You'll be able to see me jumping in front of them as soon as possible, and Lily's eyes are fluttering.
　But I have to explain it properly.

First of all, the two of you. First of all, the manticore isn't a bad guy. Sure, he kidnapped me, but that was to save the boy who's lying there.

　I pointed to a boy lying at the back of the cave.
　When Lily and Shin see it. Especially Shin's, who shows a reaction that's never been seen before.

"Oh no, you didn't think so: ......

　The boy's hand is tightened and he calls out to the boy, who is still lying on the ground, muttering in disbelief.

"No way, it's really ...... Shin . It's Singh?!

　It should have been my name, but on reflection, I realized that it wasn't the real name of the girl in front of me.
　The girl in front of me is the one who took the place of her dead brother, the one who has spent her life.
　Then the name isn't her own, but that of her supposedly dead brother.
　Then Shin's real name must be something else. The name she was given as a woman, as a sister.

　When I think about it.
　The blond boy who never seemed to open his eyes before - the real Shin - opens them as if drawn by a voice calling his name, and calls out the name of a girl who looks exactly like him in the reflection.

"...... Alisha, sister, Ms. ......?

　It was the real name of the girl who had been using the name Shin falsely until now.