After fighting off the girls as usual, the rest of the security operation ended without a hitch.
　Every once in a while a rude person would appear, but all of them could be managed by the guild members. None of the opponents that I had to leave, like the girls earlier, came out.

　I continued to carve wood while I watched the members disband in my office.

　In parallel with the development of Dimension and the woodcarving, I think about the girls.
　Who are the girls and what is their purpose?
　I have to guess.

　I think Snow and Palinkulon are the ones who currently have the information to do so.
　I asked Snow first, but the conversation ended with "everything I said the first night". As far as those girls are concerned, they just say that they are "just acquaintances" and won't get involved in deep discussions.
　Maybe it's a hassle, but they really don't seem to know much about them.

　I decide to stop prying into Snow and wait for the next candidate, Palinkulon.
　Snow had recommended that I ask Palinkron, too. However, I don't like the fact that he started to doze off after recommending it, which I don't like a bit.

　I sigh and continue to think.
　Perhaps I'll run into those girls again.
　I had a premonition that I would be fighting them.
　I had a premonition that this was going to happen.

　I had a feeling that I would have to prepare for that moment.
　In order to do so...

You're not bothering me, Kanami.

　As I was carving wood with a difficult face, Palinclone entered the office.
　Of course, I knew he was coming in here by the Dimension.

　Snow, who was sleeping by the window, jumped up at the sudden visitor. Then, he began to pretend to get to work, looking uncomfortable.

'You could at least knock. Snow will be surprised.
To Kanami, having someone enter this building is like a knock on the door, isn't it?
Yes, though: ......

　Palinkulon knows my abilities better than anyone.

　Yes.
　I know more than anyone else.
　Palinkron really does know a lot of things: .......

　So I'll just ask the simple question.

"You are hiding something from me, Palinkron?
Whoa, did Snow tell you anything?

　It was a rude question, but Palinkron returned it without any wince at all.

'And Snow, but I met a guy in town who called me 'Christ'. The guy was looking for Palinkron.
You're early. You're here already?

　Palinkron smiled happily - and somewhat nostalgically.

'Just answer the question. "What's 'Christ'? Are you hiding something?
'I can't answer that one. That's because even if I say I'm not hiding anything here, I can't prove anything. No one can prove that I'm honest. How can someone who is hiding it say they are hiding it?
That's true, but ......

　As usual, Palinkron replied with a man-eating manner.
　It was circular, but it was also logical.

　There is no point in asking the person who suspects.
　But I wanted to hear it from Palinkulon, because he had saved my life.
　Because he saved my life and is one of the few adults I can trust.

　That's why I want Palinkron's mouth to answer - no, I think I need to confront Palinkron, that's what I think.

"...... Hey, Kanami. Does it matter that much?

　Seeing me staring at him, Palinclone throws a question with a serious expression.

''What?　I mean, what's the big deal?
Aren't you happy now, Kanami?
Happy ......?
'Maria is on the road to recovery. Kanami is beginning to be respected as a guild master, and her search for the labyrinth with Snow is going well. If she keeps this up, she'll have a prosperous life with no problems. Yes, Maria will be able to live a happy life with her beloved brother and Kanami with her beloved sister. -- Now, without a doubt, Kanami and Maria (・・・・・・・) are getting what they want (・・・・・・・) (・・・・・). Still, will Kanami look for the lies?

　With a face I've never seen before, Palinkron piles on the questions.
　There was no play on his face.
　It was just a serious expression.

''Bo, I--''

　I felt my brain melt sweetly in the face of the overlapping questions.

　Palinkulon was right. Now all my wishes have come true. All my wishes that were not fulfilled in my original world have come true since I came to this other world.
　My sister is alive and beside me. I have a rewarding job and I don't have a hard time making a living. My friends are good people, and I have an existence that I can call my partner. There is not a single blame to go around.

　That makes me very happy.
　I should be happy.

　I'm supposed to be...

　My mind is restless.
　Every cell in me is screaming that I can't let this happen.
　Something lurks in the corner of my brain that rejects me and refuses to allow it to go away.

　I follow my instincts and spin the words.

'Still, I think I need to expose the lie. 'Lies won't save anyone. I don't know why, but I certainly think so: ....... Even if I lose my happiness when I expose it, I'll find it again. ...... So I want to know everything: ......

　He changed something that was lurking in the air into words and told Palinclone.
　When Palinclone heard this, he took a divine look of confirmation.

'Is that even a gentle lie?'
Yeah.

　I nodded to that question without pause.
　It was not an answer based on rational thought.
　It was a very instinctive answer.

　Now I'm not trapped in a logical (logic) cage.
　It was very refreshing to see that I am not trapped in a logic cage. And the exhilaration proved that this instinctive answer was correct.

'Kukk, that's quicksilver. Quicksilver, Kanami.

　And Palinclone praises me.
　I don't know what he was praising about me. But it seems to tug on one of the Palinkron's heartstrings.

"So, Palinkulon. Let me know if you know anything about it: ......

　I leave an impressed Palinclone and ask for the truth.　

'But even if I don't tell you now, ......, you'll know soon enough anyway.
Do you see it right away?

　Palinkron replies again in a distant way.
　I know that's the kind of person I am, but it was just annoying in this place.
　The clinging words seem to eat away at his body and make him uneasy.

　That's right.
　I feel like 'something' is clinging to me. All the time. .......　

'Yeah, I try to understand. So you don't have to worry about it.

　Palinkron asserts with a radiant face.
　He continues to spin the words with a lack of hesitation that would convince anyone.

　I waver.
　And I feel 'something' enter me.

　Ah.
　If that Palinclone is so assured, then any further pursuit is--.

Well, I guess that's settled. Now, I have to get ready for Lauravia as quickly as possible. If you don't leave quickly, you're going to run into some people you're not supposed to be meeting.

　--no, no.

　That 'something' is played out by me.
　Something else in the depths of my heart refuses to let it out.

　No, it's not.
　I haven't been taught anything yet.

'Wait, Palinkron!　Answer me more clearly!
'Mmm, still not convinced or ....... As usual, Kanami's resistance (...) is amazing: ......

　I call out to Palinclone, who was about to leave the room.
　When he was stopped, Palinclone scratched his head with a troubled look on his face.

'What do you mean, earlier than that--'
'Well, there's no way around it: ....... Then let's make a deal, shall we?
The deal: ......?
'Well, ......, I'll tell you if you defeat the guardians (guardians) of the 30 layers. I'll tell you about 'The Christ' and the girls you've probably met today. I'll tell you all about it.
"Ga, the Guardian," he said. ......?
That's the deal. As you know, I'm a twisted man who doesn't work for free. But I'll make a deal. If you want something, get me something that's worth it. Kanami.

　With a look on his face as if he had come up with a good idea, Palinkulon said something outrageous.

''That doesn't mean you can't suddenly become a guardian - 30 layers is an unheard of world, you know?
No, it's a very good idea. It's a good story for everyone and not too difficult to follow. Kanami can handle it now.
............

　This condition is probably the biggest concession for Palinkron. The fact that he brought up the deal instead of talking out of it is proof of that. Everyone in The Epic Seeker knows very well that Palinclone is only sincere about the deal.

　With those last words, Palinkron tries to leave the room.
　It would not be wise to take any more bites, I thought, so I dismissed it. I was able to get a few words out of that Palinclone. It is undeniable that I was stalling for time, but for the moment, we are making progress.

　It would be bad enough if Palinclone's moods were to be upset here and this deal was even lost.
　We won't hear anything and it will all be over.

　Above all, he saved my life.
　The last thing I need is for my friend to get in more trouble with .......

　You saved my life, ......?

　Snow gives me a questioning look as I stand there, not trying to chase Palinkron.

'...... You don't have to chase after them, Kanami?'
Oh, yeah. That's enough. Palinkron said it was a condition of exchange. I can only trust that guy when it comes to trades: ......
...... Yeah.

　Snow replied shortly with a dissatisfied look on his face.

　He doesn't seem to be satisfied with the current exchange.
　And as for why Snow isn't convinced - I understood, if only vaguely, that I did, too. But I can't admit it.

　There's something not enough ...... to admit it.
　There's still not enough .......

　The situation, the information, the state of affairs, there's so much missing.

　Slowly I exit the Oval Office.
　Snow thought it was time to break up, so he went out the window and headed to his room.

　I'm more than a little tired today.
　I wander around and head to my room where Maria is waiting.

　The sun had already gone down and it was dark.
　But Maria was rubbing her sleepy eyes and waiting for me to return.

'Welcome home, brother,'

　My beloved sister has the best smile on her face.
　That makes me very happy.

　But the feeling of discomfort I've been feeling since that day continues to torment me.
　I felt my head hurt.

I'm home, Maria. And how are you doing?
Yeah, I'm feeling much better. You can't even move now.
How's your headache?　Doesn't your head hurt?

　I'll ask Maria.

　Those girls called her one of them. Palinkron had a lot to say about Maria, too. I have to get confirmation.

"Headache?　Ta, sure, I'll do a little bit, but ......
So, Lastiara Fusoya's. Diablo Sis. Does this name ring a bell?
'What is it all of a sudden ......?　I've never heard of it.
Yes, .......

　Maria doesn't seem to know anything about it.
　But she does seem to have a headache. Maybe it's the same kind of headache I had.

　Little by little I begin to understand the situation.
　It's like filling in a crossword puzzle, and I'm getting closer and closer to the answer.

　But it's not enough.
　I'm just beginning to fill it in.
　I can't be sure, even if I can take a dim view of the overall shadow.

　After all, the quickest way to deal with Palinclone right now is the quickest way to do it.
　Most importantly, trying to fulfill that deal would be a great way to defend the current situation as it is.

　Preparing for the battle against those abnormal girls and leveling up in the labyrinth is a must either way. If there are 30 layers of guardians (guardians) beyond that, then it's only natural to make that a goal.

　In the end, you have to pick a deal.
　And I think Palinkron knew that.

　I have no choice but to decide to dive into the labyrinth, aiming for the 30th layer.

'Brother, how can I help you ......?　What's the name of the people you just named ......?
'No, it's nothing ....... I was just curious. ......
'I see. ......'
'Don't worry about it. Better yet, if you still have a headache, let's get to bed.
Oh, yes.

　Upon hearing that I'm going to bed, Maria happily makes an opening and invites me to get into bed.

'Ya, I knew you were going to sleep with me ......?'
You're brother and sister, so it's only natural.
...... Got it.

　Even though I know Maria is heartbroken, it's still something I can't get used to.
　If I say no here, Maria will be sad and I can only nod my head.

　Then, as usual, me and Maria hold hands and meditate on each other.

　As I feel Maria's warmth, I think.

　What I don't know. What I doubt. What is missing. What is important.
　The more I think about it, the more my head aches.

　But I didn't want to stop.
　I knew that if I stopped, I would regret it.

　So no matter what pain I felt, I didn't stop thinking about it until I fell asleep.