--Elizabeth Vols is strong.
　I must escape. But the earth-shaking magic from her feet won't let me escape.

Flame Flamberge.

　Beth draws her sword from her waist and lets the flames pass through her. That familiar magic makes my body reflexively tremble. However, unlike Maria and the others' 《Flame Flamberge》, her flame seems to be only an aid. Because it wasn't enough firepower to slay the enemy with just the flame, the trembling stopped immediately.
　However, I can't let my guard down. Probably, her main goal is not flame, but earth attribute magic.

''Knight Commander-sama, ....... The sight of this country finally reminded me of it. It's me. I'm your subordinate, Elizabeth: .......

　The magic that was released was tumultuous, but her narrative was gentle.
　I am hopeful that maybe I can surpass it without a fight.

'You taught me how to make pastries ...... and I have become very good at it. I've been practicing ...... for a long time, even after the Knight Commander-sama disappeared.

　In the hand that wasn't holding the sword, there was a package in the hand that wasn't holding the sword.
　What was in it turned out to be the usual sweets.

'I've been waiting for you for a long, long time, believing you'd come back. Yes, all the time. I waited alone until the end of time. Believing that you would come back to help me. ......

　With a monologue, Beth comes closer.
　She shows me the cookies in the package and asks, "You finally ate them the other day, didn't you?

'You finally ate them the other day. How did you like the taste?　Did it taste like your home town, properly?

　I asked her what she thought of the candy from a few days ago. From this, I can tell that she has a continuing memory, unlike the other knights.

'Beth, do you remember what you did yesterday ......?'
'Yes, barely. Probably because of the density of blood flowing through this body.

　I nodded slowly.
　When I saw that, I stepped forward.
　I know I have a lot to say to her. But right now, Reynand-san is in danger. If I tell her that her grandfather is in danger, she will be able to cooperate and get on with things.

'Beth!　Now, because of Lord and Nosfi, there's a lot of things wrong with this 'viasia'!　Take "Vyasia" back to a time of war, get everyone involved, those two are about to do something they shouldn't!　And Mr. Reynand was standing alone against it--
What about it?

　Only, my cries were interrupted by an awful, cold voice.
　I was surprised to hear Reynand's name and asked back, surprised at the same coldness I'd heard from him.

''Do you want to know what's going on ......? Beth, do you want to stay in a town like this ......?
Yeah, no problem.
No, I don't care!　They're trying to lightly recreate a battle from a thousand years ago!　There's no way I'm allowed to do that!
So?
"So, that's why: ......

　I noticed an anomaly in Beth's continuing cold answers.
　There was a gap too deep in the gulf between their consciousnesses. She is not resentful of the situation. Rather, what she is resenting is something else. Perhaps it's the one that is now in front of her--

So now is not a good time for you to be taking so long with me?　This war ended a thousand years ago and no one should remember it anymore?　Do you think Master Uzumi doesn't care about any of the sins he committed a thousand years ago?　You would say that?　Do you, of all people, say that?

　--It's me.

　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends and family.
　The invasion of the 'South', the war itself a thousand years ago, the Lords and Nosfies who messed with the world they live in - these things are not important to Beth, she is looking only at me.

''Listen. Listen to me carefully, Lord Knight Commander. The others have been mercifully worn out (worn out), but this war (battle) of Elizabeth Volus is still going on. This is what you taught me. War is war until it is forgotten. It's a war until the bereaved are eradicated. As long as there is any evidence of it, it will never be over. Yes, it's never going to end. You can't pretend it never happened!

　At last, he showed his feelings on his face.
　And I understand the meaning of that anger.
　More than anything else, Beth can't forgive me for making light of what happened a thousand years ago. But there is nothing I can do about it now. Since there is no way to regain my memories, I can't say anything back to her.

　I had no choice but to retreat in silence.

　As she retreated, Beth approached me accusingly.

'So that silence is your answer. You have forgotten. You have forgotten the past, Vyasia, your men, and me - you have forgotten everything, thrown it away, and fled.

　Maybe I was dreaming too much, asking for cooperation.
　I was less aware that 'now' and 'here' was such a place.

'That day, in that place, Uzumi-sama told me that I was all alone and that you would be 'family' with me ....... But you've forgotten that too .......

　With a thin smile that looked like it was about to break now, Beth dropped the parcel in her hand to the ground.
　It was such a painful smile that if she touched it just a little bit, it would make a hole in her heart.

'Then it is now only left to fight. Because you are the last unborn child that holds me together. ...... --《Flame Axel》

　--Come (...).

　When she thought that, her body had disappeared from sight.
　Then, the ground shook in a large way. Following that shaking, with a bursting sound, the ground where she was standing was gouged out, and brown dirt was scattered.

　My 《Dimension》 captures the cause of that phenomenon. It's the magic of unchained earth and fire. It's the acceleration magic that Reynand-san showed me once - the Flame Axel. Beth-chan, who obtained the enhancement of that magic, kicked the earth.

　In the blink of an eye, she dives into his bosom.
　That's a terrifying speed. Both of her legs are emitting a light red light due to the magical power of the 《Flame Axel》 heat. Perhaps it was a magic that temporarily increased her muscle strength. The sudden acceleration caused by that abnormal muscle power easily defied the concept of distance.

''Poof!　--Michemistry, Dimension Decisive Operations (Gradient)!

　A flaming sword is swung out. I read its trajectory and twist myself wide open.
　I dodge the attack at a paper-thin point--but

"'Devour!'　Flame Flamberge!

　The flames grazed on the sleeves of my clothes flared up as if I had gained oil. At this rate, the flames would spread to my entire body. Immediately I tore the sleeve off my shoulder and threw it away.

　However, during that action, Beth's returning blade comes right in front of me.

《Default!

　He decided that he could no longer evade in time and leapt back a few meters with the spatial compression of dimensional magic.

''-- 'Hold on to your shields!　Earthquake!

　However, the landing of that leap was matched by an earthquake, and his knee broke as if he had been swept off his feet. I lost my stance to the point where I almost fell haphazardly.
　And when she recovered her collapsed stance, Beth is diving back into her bosom again.

''This, this--!

　In the face of that furious series of blows, I too am pulled out of my sword.
　The two swords being swung out, the 'Straight Sword of Crescent Pectrazuli' and the 'Flame Flamberge' were struck together.

　I no longer have the luxury of being careful because the other party is someone I know. I'm going to cut Beth's skin a little bit and overwhelm her with my 'Sword Technique' in order to make her frightened - but surprisingly, what unfolded in front of me was an even sword fight.

''Wha--?

　I'm not going to be the only one who can do this. The 'muscle strength' may be inferior due to the influence of magic, but that shouldn't be important in sword fighting.
　And yet, I can't push through.
　Beth's sword, which is approaching the speed of God, is being disposed of one by one.

　It wasn't long before I realized the reason for this inexplicable antagonism. The information from the 《Dimension》 tells me the answer.

　As per the ruthless difference in status, there are many times when Beth-chan is unable to follow my attacks with her eyes. At that time, the action she's taking was unexpectedly an 'intuition' interception.
　If you're as good as she is, it's a gut feeling backed up by some experience, no doubt. But even so, the intuition is still too brilliant.
　You can only assume that your hands are being read. It's so accurate and bold that you could call it a family member's reading. In other words...

　--Beth is used to fighting me.

　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it. I'm sure there are many days of training with her in the memory of the lost millennia ago. In those days, there must have been many situations like the one I'm in now where I was holding back.

　Immediately I changed my course of action. That's because it's impossible to outsmart her with a little bit of dimensional magic.

　I abandon the idea of letting Beth meet with Reynand-san. It's hard to bring her along, let alone ask her to cooperate. Besides, her power is dangerous, but most of all, I don't want Ms. Reynand-san to see this figure that seems to have forgotten her grandfather.

'--I'm sorry, Beth!　I can't deal with them now!

　He leapt backwards through the gaps between sword fights. Then she kicked the alleyway wall and climbed onto the roof. This should lessen the effect of the 'ground' magic that she seemed to be so good at.

'I won't let you get away!

　Beth, too, kicked and gutted the ground and leapt. However, without waiting for her to land, I ran out on the roof to escape.

　This time, I didn't use 《Default》. I'm aiming for a simple 'speed' and 'physical strength' game rather than compressing the distance using dimensional magic.

　If we compare our bare stats, the difference between us is obvious.
　We may be able to catch up a little bit with Flame Axel, but at that point, we just have to wait for her MP to run out. Even if we compare our MPs, I will win.

《Flame Axel》!

　Beth-chan converted all of her body's magic power into speed and tried to chase me. When the 《Flame Axel》 was used, the distance between us was reduced to zero in an instant.
　However, I'm not in a hurry. Every time they caught up with me, I would calmly respond with my sword, find an opening and break away.
　I kept repeating that.

　A game of tag using the skies of the city of Viisia begins.
　We keep jumping from rooftop to rooftop with the wind out of the way. They continue to ring out sword fights in the warring skies. And about two minutes after the start of that tag game - much earlier than planned, Beth began to stall.

''Hah, hah, hah!

　From the pain-filled expression on his face, it was clear that it wasn't just a simple exhaustion of physical strength. Perhaps, but it was the influence of the 《Flame Axel》. That isn't strictly a magic for increasing muscle strength, but seems to be seen as a magic that exceeds the limits of muscle strength.

　As soon as I saw the distance between me and Beth, I took off my shoes and became barefoot.

'If you say my footsteps are distinctive, you can go to ......

　The soles of my feet might get hurt, but it's no use right now. I put the "burnt-out shoes of the other world" into my "possessions" to reduce the sound of my footsteps as much as possible.
　Beth, who saw it from a distance, is surprised - saddened.

''Ah, ah, ah, ......!　Nuh-uh, I took it off: ......!　I knew the Lord Commander had escaped ......!　No change: ......!　Ah, the Commander-sama really did run away from 'here' ......!

　It was as if he didn't want to see the act alone, the expression on his face and the dialogue. But I don't know the true meaning of it. I decided that there was nothing I could do about it now, and quickly changed my direction of travel to the mansion where Reynand-san and Nosfi were.

　Then, as I shook off Beth's pursuit and lost sight of her, I heard a wail.

''Ah, Commander-sama ......!　Commander-sama, Commander-sama, Commander-sama, Commander-sama, aaaaaaaa--!

　The shout shook 'Viasia' greatly. But I won't stop. I can't stop now. The only thing I can do now is to return Viaisia to its original state as soon as possible so that everyone can return to the world of peace.

　I've been running at a speed that the knights on the street can't even catch up with, paying close attention to their tails as I continue to run on the roof.


◆◆◆◆◆ ...


Hah, hah, hah!

　We're going to reassess Viaisia as we flee over the rooftops of the city.
　This place is dangerous.
　There are too many enemies of my - no, the me of a thousand years ago, "The Original Kanami". I'm not going to be able to get a good deal more enemies to stand in the way. I'm sure you'll be able to find a lot of skilled knights who know a lot about me, even though I don't know them at all.

　I need to meet up with Ryner and Reynand-san as soon as possible and escape to the labyrinth. However, the more impatient I am, the more distracted I become. On the way to the mansion, some knights almost found me, and I used my forceful technique, 《Default》. Unlike the monsters in the labyrinth, it's extremely troublesome that each one of them are thinking and looking for me.

''Haha, haha!　But we're almost there: ......!

　I was running as fast as I could over a long distance, and I was short of breath. The reason for the shortness of breath was probably because I had to make a slight detour to be sure. However, the price of that exhaustion is--.

I got it: ......

　We made it to the mansion in question.
　Having visited it in person, I could feel the atmosphere of the building firsthand. He was convinced that the house was the same as the one in which Reynand had lived. The grounds have been expanded and extended, and the workshop has been destroyed, but the house is still there.

　Immediately I ran through the garden of the mansion and roughly opened the door of the mansion.
　If the information from the 《Dimension》 is correct, there are only three of us here--

Mr. Raynand!

　As soon as he opens the door, he calls out to her first.
　However, Reynand's voice does not return.
　What comes back is a soft girl's voice.

''...... Hmph. It's quirky, Uzurinami-sama.

　In the entrance hallway lined with gleaming furnishings were Reynand-san and Nosfi, just like the information from 《Dimension》. However, there was too much difference in their appearance.

　While Nosfi was unscathed, Reynand-san was wounded to the point where he had no time to reply.
　An arrow of light that seemed to be magic had pierced deep into his right thigh, and he had poked his knee into the floor. Other small cuts were all over his body, and the clothes he was wearing were torn to shreds. One arm is bent in a different direction and his prey, a large axe, is lying on the floor.
　Looking at the blood-red smeared figure, I didn't need to look at the 'display' to know that it was a crisis.

　And the girl who would have cornered Reynand-san to that point, turns her body towards us. It's the same as usual--with the same smile I saw in the morning and afternoon.

''-- In this short period of time, have you escaped from that road and the city full of hostility? Hmph, it's the same as always. It really is 'the same as ever'.

　Nosfi pointed his weapon, the flag, at Mr. Raynand, but when he shifted his interest to us, he lowered the tip of the flag to the ground.
　I approached the two of them, shouting loudly to get Mr. Raynand's attention for his safety.

'Nosfi--!　That's enough!　Put the "here" back together now!　It's all your doing, isn't it?

　With a mixture of anger and hostility, I pointed the 'Crescent Pectrazi's Straight Sword' at Nosfi.
　But even though she is under my full pressure (pressure), she has a cool face.

''Yes, at Lord's request, I played with 'here'. If you say that much, you may put it back ...... but after putting it back, what do you plan to do, Uzurinami-sama?
It's a--
You're trying to escape to the future with Helvirshine and Volus, aren't you, Master Uzumi? Uzumi-sama is.

　He seemed to have assumed the answer from the beginning while asking.
　With a nasty look on his face, he took away the rest of my statement, followed by a sad shake of his head. The sad expression on his face seemed to be many times more stinky than usual.

''Oh, that's no good. It's no good, Overha-sama. Then you'll lose your Lord's energy again, won't you?　Didn't Master Uzuraha cheer Lord up?　I thought you were going to give me my ego?　That's not what you promised.

　You said all you have to do is be selfish and say what's convenient for you: ......!

　No, I know.
　This is not a Lord.
　The Lord is in pain. Lord is lost. Lord is crying.
　But this guy is the opposite.

"So!　That's what I've been trying to tell you, I'm going down to Earth to get the AID!　As long as the id is there, he can fulfill his end of the bargain!　You'll be happy!　That's it!
'But if Uzumi-sama and the others go to ground, the Lord's face will be cloudy: ......!　Oh, I don't want to see loads of them like that: ......!　Please don't make my friend Lord cry, Uzumi-sama!
'We're only days away from getting the id!　You'll have to put up with that much!
But don't worry!　Master Uzumi!　We've come up with a plan that makes sense to everyone, and we've prepared it!　Hmmm, I had fun thinking about it with Lord!

　I scream and Nosfi laughs.
　On the surface, we seem to be able to exchange words. Both Nosphy and I have retained the calmness to do so.
　But it's not - it's not a conversation anymore. Nosfi's side has absolutely no interest in listening to me. Nosfi just keeps talking fast and self-centered.

''What? Uzumi-sama and the others don't need to go to 'ground'!　If we all live together here, everything will be fine!　You'll be able to fulfill her unfinished business without making Lord look sad!　But it's going to take a thousand years - or maybe 10,000 years - for the Lord to disappear completely!
'Ten thousand years!　You're going to be here for ten thousand years!
Yes, I think it will take that long. Therefore, would you like to spend ten thousand years or so in the past with me, Uzumi-sama?　This is not a bad story for Uzumi-sama. Didn't you feel a lot of guilt on the way out of town?　You can atone for the crime of doing this now, right?　Confession is a good thing. It lightens your heart, doesn't it?

　I think of the knights I just shook off and Beth. I can't shake them off easily and ask them back.

''You're ...... saying that this city of 'Viasia' right now is my fault?'''
'Yes (...). Once, there were tens of thousands of people living in this Viaissia. All of them were tricked - and killed by Lord Kanha. If this was not a crime, what was it? Therefore, Lord Uzumi must be punished for the murder. Otherwise, the reckoning doesn't add up. Uzunami-sama should reflect on his actions here for at least ten thousand years. That's right - he should do what my friend Lord Uzunami has been doing for a thousand years. Without a doubt, Uzunami-sama has that duty. ...... Oh, of course, I'll apologize with you, don't worry!　Hmmm, to live here and keep apologizing to them... I'm so excited!
'Throbbing ......?　So, does that mean it's also a solution to Nosfi's unresolved issues: ......?
'What?　I'm afraid I can't get through.　Because 'I want to stay here with you for tens of thousands of years' is the Lord's wish, and 'turning this place into hell' is Uzumi-sama's sin. I have nothing to do with it. There is no way to disappear. Rather, I think the stress of being trapped underground for ten thousand years will make my body thicken.
Hey, you--!

　Oh, there's no doubt about it.
　That's the enemy. Enemy.
　He doesn't care about my compromise anymore. We're not even discussing it.

　More importantly, even now, when Nosphy sees my confusion.

''Yes, definitely, 'here' is a world for Lord and Uzumi-sama two!　This is not a situation I want to be in!　I'm just there!　So, I'm safe and unharmed.　I can't go away!　Hmmmmm, that's a very reminder!
Isn't this what you want?　You're lying!　Then why?　Why do you look like that (・・・・)!

　-- laughing (・・・・・).

　This guy has been laughing happily ever since this morning.

　Not the mature laugh she had when she was summoned to the sixty layers, but she's laughing innocently, like a child. I don't need to observe her closely to know that this is her true intention. Right now, Nosfi is annoying me and enjoying herself wholeheartedly.

　At the same time, my doubts from last night are cleared up.
　She diminished her unrequited love when she refused to be joined. The reason for this is clear now.
　At that moment, Nosfi must have been pleased to see me in pain.

　And now she knows what she wants, and she's put all her energy into annoying me.

'Such a face (・・・・) ......?　Oh, were you laughing?　Hmm, hahaha, did I laugh when I saw Uzumi-sama's too desperate appearance?　Maybe all morning?　Oh, I'm sorry!　I didn't mean to do that, but I can't stop laughing, I can't stop laughing!　Hmph, hahahahahahahahahaha--!

　Nosfi's dialogue, which feels nothing but malice. The way his body trembles as if to suppress a hiccup, and he holds his limp and twisted mouth with both hands. Above all, that smile--.
　Ridiculing--!

The magical Dimension Graduation!

　I was at my limit.
　I step in unwisely and swing my sword.