Mmm. I have more time for this.

　After promising to be accomplices, we decided on our plans for the upcoming Ritual.
　The plan was easily decided, and we had plenty of time to spare. First, I try to find out exactly how much time Tiara has left.

''Tiara-san, how much time do we have left?
We're a few hours away from extinction, right?　I'd have more if I were asleep, though.

　Very lightly, Miss Tiara confessed that she had not a day of life left in her.
　But there was no change in her complexion on the brink of that death.

'So that's it!　I'll give you a little practice!

　Instead, she laughs merrily, and Tiara strikes a strange pose, trying to put others before herself.

　I'm baffled by her reaction.
　Even if I really don't have any 'unfinished business', I'm sure there are more things I'd like to do in the end. At the very least, I would ...... like to see my sister and Christ for one last glance and talk to them.

　I gaze at her body in its strange pose, thinking that I can't fully understand Tiara's thoughts before the ritual.
　Her body was too small and thin, and her magic power was poor and weak. I'm not sure if it's a body that can withstand a fight.

''Training is ...... that body to take on me?''

　As I recall, I heard that the level of the owner of that body wasn't so high.
　No matter how much Tiara-san's 'blood' was, her status was simply too lacking.

''N......, Rainer-chan. Could it be that you're judging by your status numbers?　Oops!
You're late. ......?

　Tiara-san looks over the fact that I was judging her based on her level and status, and laughs at me for being wrong about that.

''Status is just an early initial initial rule that my master thought up. From my point of view, with the latest rules installed, it's outdated. The era of 'numbers that don't appear in numbers' is this.

　'Unquantifiable numbers'.
　It's a word I've heard somewhere.
　As I recall, I think Rastiara and Ragne were discussing it together, but it was never explained to me in detail.

　--Tiara-san reads my thoughts and begins to speak again ahead of me.

The 'numeric value' that does not appear in numbers refers to such vague terms as 'mental power', 'luck' and 'intuition'. It also includes the 'power of love'.　The bigger this is, the stranger it is, the more I win even if I'm losing in status. Have you ever wondered why?　You know when you lose to an opponent who is clearly of a lower status than you?　Whoa.

　I thought that no matter how much you are winning with your strength, you don't know whether you are winning or losing until the end - that is the usual nature of competition, but Tiara-san says that even that can be quantified.

The 'stealers of reason' generally have a very low 'numeric value' that does not appear in numbers. They're exactly what you'd call intrinsically weak people who have been determined to lose their lives.
"You say that 'the one who steals the reason' is the weak one: ......?

　It was unbelievable to me, having fought them in person. I never once thought of those monsters, who are synonymous with strength, as weak.

''So, I have a high 'numeric value that doesn't appear in numbers' from my soul. So regardless of my status or anything else, I'm strong! I'm very strong!

　Tiara sniffs and shuffles and pretends to hit nothing and says she's stronger than those who 'steal reason'.

　I thought that raised my eyebrows.
　And I guess you can see my suspicions too. To prove her strength, she distanced herself, poised her bare hands, and beckoned me to join her.

'Which, come at me. Let me give you a little squeeze.
...... now. Let me make sure.

　Training is my hobby, and practice matches are my favorite.
　Without a moment's hesitation, I took a simple duel.

　The field of the duel is a grassy field with a clear view and no obstacles.
　One-on-one head-to-head match.

　To be honest, I don't feel like losing.
　Right now I'm the highest level knight in the Confederation, and my opponent's level is in the single digits. Even if I ask a thousand people, a thousand will bet on my victory.

　But I'm sure I can feel pressure other than magic power from Tiara-san in person.
　Even though my opponent is getting degraded by degradation, he's still that saintly person.

　Without a single ounce of caution, I build my wind magic.

''--Wind Wind Speed (Skyrunner).

　Activating the running aid magic I used in the labyrinth, I leap instead of run.

　The destination of the move is above Tiara's head.
　There, I move while doing a somersault, kicking the air while upside down and drawing my sword from directly above. It's one of the 'wind sword techniques' that I was taught by Titi in the labyrinth.

''Sweet!''

　However, Tiara-san followed that perverted aerial trajectory with her eyes, not wavering at all. She dodged my flash of a peaked strike with a paperweight - on the contrary, she lightly pinched the belly of that empty sword with her finger.

　If I make one mistake, my finger will be sliced off, a divine feat. It's really only for a split second - but in that split second, my grip on the sword is successfully broken with just two fingertips. And then he lightly and accurately strikes my jaw as it falls from the sky.

''Nah--!

　Wobbling, I lose my sense of equilibrium, which is most important in aerial combat.
　My consciousness, which has been made as tough as a monster by the increase in my level, really flew away for a moment.

　It's a series of momentary techniques.
　From that point on, I didn't know what happened.
　Before I knew it, I had fallen to the ground in a large figure and Tiara's fist was on my nose.

　If this fist had been seriously dropped, the damage would have been done, no matter how different the level was. If Tiara-san had been holding a weapon, she could have died.

''............!

　I'm raptured.
　I knew that I might be strong, but I didn't expect to be treated so lightly.

　Tiara-san, who is riding on top of me with her feet on top of my body, senses my surrender by her expression and bursts out laughing with a sneer.

Ha, hahahahahaha!　Not fair!　Was that the magic name my master gave me?　It's not fair to come to me to make me laugh!

　There was no technical instruction for the training, and the name of the technique was the first thing that came to mind.
　It is very regrettable, but I will confess that it is my own magic.

It's not Christ, it's me who named it ....... But Christ said that the easier and cooler it is to scream, the stronger it is, so I just had no choice but to do it ....... I heard that if you put ...... rubrics like this, it makes it somehow more powerful.

　It's no surprise, but I don't like to do it.
　I'm just trying to shout out the name of the technique when I hear from the Lord that I can get the power.

''Hmmm, that's deceptive, Ryner-chan.
...... Huh?　Duh, are we being fooled?

　No way is this information coming in.
　I was stunned next to raptured and had to ask back.

''It's important to keep your heart in the right place, but the name isn't important, is it?　Ruby and other things, it's totally Master's taste. Master is just another innocent child to fool. Haha... ......

　It was just a hobby of Christ's, apparently.
　Every day I kept suspecting that it was a hobby, like a technical name, but I knew it was a hobby.

　Upon learning the truth, anger boiled up from within and - no, wait. No, wait.
　I don't believe the Lord has the character to deceive people. He said he hates lies so much.

...... No, Christ looked like he really believed that. I don't think he meant any offense ....... Maybe.

　I want to believe that. I want you to believe that.
　Otherwise, the next time I see you, I might just cut you down.

I know you didn't mean it. I know you don't mean well. But you're the trouble, my friend. Haha, yeah, it's really the same as always, Master ....... It's the same as it was with me.

　With a distant look in her eyes, Tiara retreats from my stomach.

　I feel bad for her, but soon I'm about to ask her to evaluate the current fight as I stand up. For me, training now is more important than the past.

But to really lose to you, with your body, is ....... I thought I was getting stronger in my own right, but ......
'You're strong, Reiner. Probably quite a bit, even a thousand years ago. But I've fought a whole bunch of flying guys... To be honest, it was pretty easy!

　It is said that the surprise attack from the air, which was carried out with great confidence, was a mistake in the first place.
　There aren't many people in the Allies who can fly through the sky with magic. I'm sure it was the first time she had ever seen it, but she was used to it.

''I see. I've heard that there used to be a lot of beastmen in the past, both in number and variety. So there was a whole bunch of them, like Snow and Titi.
In the past, greedy dragons bred with many different species, which led to the birth of many winged dragons. It was hard to kill them all. Anyway, I'm very strong against the flying ones.
I see, so that experience goes into the 'unquantifiable figures' category.
'No, experience is experience, and it's not the same as 'numbers that don't show up in numbers'.
You're not!

　If that's the case, what was the story just now ......?
　Staring at Tiara-san, who is constantly toying with people, I urge her to continue her story.
　Seeing me, she chuckles and gets down to business.

Well, a large part of the current battle was due to experience, but the 'numbers that don't appear in the numbers' also had an effect. Because of my outstanding 'mental power', I never cower or get lost in battle. Because my instincts are sharp, even if I couldn't follow Reiner's movements with my eyes, I somehow understood where he was going to attack. Also, I have good luck, so it's easy to win at some point or another.
............

　It's a joke.
　It's a much fluffier explanation than I expected.
　I know it's hard to put into words because it's the part I couldn't quantify, but this makes it hard to believe even if I wanted to.

You may not believe it right now, but you'll realize it little by little. After all, Ryner-chan also has a high 'numerical value that doesn't appear in the numbers'. That's why I said you're the only one who can beat Yotaki sister.
'Am I high on the 'numbers that don't show up in numbers' thing: ......?　I don't feel that way at all: ......

　To this day, I've never considered myself particularly fortunate.
　Even when I was in the academy, I never felt that I had good instincts or good luck.
　Typically, my status 'qualities' were too low compared to Christ and his friends, and I was inferior to my older brothers and sisters. It's not so easy to nod your head when you're told you have talent now.

''Oh, to put it bluntly, your 'qualities' are rubbish. You can't say that your 'luck' is bad and your 'intuition' is not good either. Except for ...... elsewhere. Reiner Helvirshine is only jumping out at you because of your willpower.

　I've been told that I'm generally no good at what I want, such as talent and luck, but I've been praised for one thing. It was willpower - or 'mental strength'.

'Well, didn't you cower at a high level of that ......?'

　He also said he wouldn't get lost.

　I'm a little disappointed at the power that doesn't seem to be of much use in battle.
　I'm sure anyone can easily shake off their fears and doubts if they are prepared to do so. I don't think it's a particular advantage.

''Haha. That's a very rude thing to think, Reiner. It's like you're too strong-minded to understand the fears and hesitations of others. Even though you know that humans have such feelings, you can't empathize with them. After all, I'm just like my sister Youtaki and Legacy.
Wait. Didn't I just equate you with the Palinkron guy?

　'It's the biggest insult in the world,' he says, stepping forward and revealing his anger.

'No, I'm not in the same league. Because Palinclone Legacy was far superior to your best advantage, 'mental strength', and also had good 'intuition' and 'luck'. And that Yangtaki sister was superior to everything that Palinclone Legacy had to offer. They're similar, but they're as different as the difference between heaven and earth.

　It's very clear that they are similar, but not as if they are lacking.

　It's understandable that the Palinkron guy was strong outside of his status.
　However, it was a bit hard to believe that Christ's sister was beyond that guy.
　If that was true, then her sister's level of danger would be terrifying. Tiara-san took the liberty of reading and answering that concern again.

''It's better to be aware of that much. Sister Yangtaki is also dangerous. To be honest, she was an opponent that even I, in my prime, didn't feel like I could beat.''
"You're such a saint, you're such a big deal: ......

　Now I saw a glimpse of Tiara's power. If she had regained her original body, it would be comparable to Christ and Titi. Even so, it seems to be at the level of giving up before the fight.

''On top of having such power, sister Yotaki had the worst personality... The motto is to get rid of everything that stands in your way, and she is extremely ruthless. I'm sure she won't be on the same page as any of the other Ryners.
Oh, so that's what he is. So, you said earlier that I would fight your sister.
''Yes, I'll fight. Without a doubt, Yotaki sister will do 'something that no one else in the world can agree with'. I heard from her that she's going to do it, so there's no doubt about it.

　Meaningfully, Tiara goes on to talk about Christ's sister.
　However, there are many abstractions about the sister from earlier. I try to ask for details now that I have more time.

'Mr. Tiara. If you have the time, I'd like to hear more about that story. To be honest, I'm really curious: ....... What in the world is your sister trying to do ......?
...... hmm.

　Here, Tiara stuttered.
　Because she was talking lightly about what kind of story it would be, her contemplation was noticeable. Then, after pondering fully, she laughed again - and shook her head.

'No, no, no. She said it's better to train you first than to talk about something that will be known one day. You have to have the strength to do something about Yotaki sister first...''

　She was clearly trying to be distracted.
　I should probably take a step back here, not wanting to be heard, because she didn't want to be heard. But when it comes to Christ's relatives, it's not so easy to pull back.

'You'll understand someday, they say, ...... and that won't convince me. I might be able to stop your sister when she's about to go astray. Just give me a little, brief, important part of the story.
'I'm not going to tell you just the important parts. You'll never believe me if I don't tell you everything I've been born with, because you'll never believe me - this. But if I tell you that, it won't be over in a day. ...... Hmmm, no, I'm going to give up on this one!　And there's no stopping it, even if I knew about it anyway!　I mean, I couldn't stop it, and I'm pretty sure Reiner couldn't do it!　The biggest problem right now is that you're too weak to fight when sister Yotaki wakes up!

　Apparently the biggest problem is that I'm too weak.
　It's hard for me to talk back when I'm being used as a reason for my trashiness.
　She's right, Rainer Helvirshine lacks strength, something I'm keenly aware of from the fight with Nosfy.

　I'll take insurance in case we get into a fight, rather than the reason for the fight.

"...... All right. If you don't want to talk about it, I'm done. I'd rather have more time to be strong. If something happens, then all I have to do is do my best to stop it.
'Yes, yes, yes!　I knew you were good, Reiner!　Unlike someone else, I don't waste time worrying about it, so I'm quick to talk!　Being honest with yourself is more of a beauty than a cleverness!

　I feel like I've been lightly badmouthed by the Lord, but since we generally agree, I'll take it as an honest compliment.

　Thus, we resume our training, undoing the digression.

I'm going to continue my training. I'm going to make sure that you have the strength of mind to keep challenging yourself against any strong opponent. I'm going to teach you a lot of skills as well.
'No, as for me, I'd like you to focus on the skills and teach me: ......
The guardians of the labyrinth can teach you how to do that. It's designed so that you can get stronger by hiding in there. If you fight against the bosses and guardians, you will become strong naturally. The strength of the mind is more important than that, it's really important.

　It would be explained to me like a delicious hunting ground where everyone in the Confederacy is risking their lives to capture it. But if it's so easy to get strong there, then I haven't even met Christ in the first place.

'Don't think anyone can be as strong as you ....... Can I tell you how many times I've fought labyrinth bosses and guardians (guardians) to the death ......?
'...... Ah, so that's what you mean. So the former is too weak to do well in the labyrinth. ...... Then I don't have a choice. Well then, let's have you learn the least amount of skills first.
Thank you. I'll take that.

　The new master is not hard-headed and is flexible enough to accommodate my needs.
　And I wait for her to continue her training, a little bit excited to see how much of a special training the legendary saint will impose on me.

''Yes, well then, here's what we'll do first. --Magic 《Light Cuffs》

　Tiara made her hands glow white and cast a spell on the wrists of both my arms. It was a magic of light, yet it had a definite weight to it. To put it simply, they were pure white handcuffs.

'Yes, now this. Put it on your head...

　The next thing handed to me was a very nostalgic training item - a black hand towel.

'Handcuffs and a blindfold ......?　Well, again: ......
What, again?
I was given similar training by Ayde and Rowen.
'Heh, those two guys are ......?　So you're on the verge of catching a glimpse of the skill 'Sensitivity' in 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Earth'. Thanks to 'The One Who Steals the Reason of the Trees', you've also got a foundation in magic: ......

　As for the basics of magic, Ayd's sister Titty was a big help.
　I also don't feel like Christ has helped me in a lot of ...... ways. No, I don't. And in the end, that technique was appropriate. I was just needlessly humiliated.

You can't get away with it," he said, "Your wind magic is quite good, but shall we master the skills first? I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about it.
The skill 'sensitivity' at ......?　Will it be available to me: ......?
'No, probably never. It's a skill that an ordinary person can't reach at the edge, and that one.
Hey.

　He teases me with a skill I've always admired, and a little bit of killing spirit leaks out.
　It's about time I was allowed to take at least one hit.

'Don't be angry! I'm not trying to be mean, I'm just saying that I can't give you a guarantee. That skill is the only thing I can't say that I'll make you learn it, even if it's just me! Let's train like we're lucky if we can learn it, right?

　It seems that it's simply a matter of the difficulty of Rowen-san's skills. It doesn't seem to be a story I brought up to disappoint me, so I reluctantly nod back.

''I get it. I knew from the beginning that it's not a skill that can be learned that easily. I'm going to take it easy and work on this skill for the rest of my life.
Then, while improving the main 'numeric value' of the main 'numeric value that doesn't appear in the numbers', we'll also challenge the 'sensitivity' skill at the same time. Then what should we do about the content of the training?

　Tiara put a hand to her chin and was lightly troubled.
　It only took him a few seconds of mmmm groaning, and he quickly came up with an answer. This person seems to be the same as Rath Tiara, and is basically the type of person who doesn't worry about it.

''Alright, I'll have you repeat your near-death experience from now on!　I think this is probably the fastest way to go.
I'm starting to want to leave after hearing a few things: ......

　The word "near-death" is lightly brought up.
　Even I, who trained recklessly in my own way, wondered if it could be called special training.

You train your mind and senses through repeated near-death training. This is a training method that has been proven by everyone a thousand years ago, so don't worry.

　I'm not doubting Tiara's words. She's right, there are things you can gain by dying.
　However, there are some things that you don't want to try, no matter how proven they are.
　Above all, I can't allow myself to die in the wild, not in practice, but in training.

"I won't let you die, don't worry. I'll be right here with you.

　Seeing my reluctant face, Tiara-san emphasizes that she is the founder of magic.
　Probably, Tiara-san is the most successful wizard in the world who can handle recovery magic well. However, her body's magic power right now is low and there are too many uncertainties.
　I still can't nod and continue to wrinkle my brow.

''If it becomes dangerous, I'll use serious (...) 'Sacred Magic' even if I'm cutting down my last life. I promise I won't let you die, no matter what. Trust me, Rainer-chan.

　He got impatient with me not agreeing to it, and even said he was willing to sacrifice his life.
　I have no choice but to respond to that.

"No, I just want to say that there are other ways to do it without going that far...
'Let me do it. Making Reiner-chan stronger is the last thing I want to do here. I don't want to do the right thing here and not have any regrets.

　Tiara, with her bloodless blue face, tells me she's going to give it all up for me.
　I knew she was strangely obsessed with me from earlier, but I didn't think it would go this far.
　I ask the reason for this obsession.

'Tiara-san, why do you go to such lengths to give me ......?'
Maybe it's because ...... has a lot for you to do?
'I know that. If Christ and your sister are about to go the wrong way, I'm the one who has to fight, right?　I promise to repay you for this special training. I mean, there's no way I wouldn't be working for the Lord if such a situation arose, so there's definitely that.
'Yeah, that's a relief. But it's not the only thing I'm hoping for. Actually.

　He still had something else he wanted me to do.

　What is it, I urged Tiara-san to continue with my eyes.
　And to that, she looks a little shy - but she answers with the most sincere eyes of the day on me.

　--It was a 'curse' that was like a 'prophecy' that would decide my life.

"Above all, I want kids like you ...... to reach the 'deepest'
What?　'The Deepest' ......?
"Not those who stole reason and became strong, not the Apostle Diprakra, Sith or Legacy, not the chosen of the saints, not the Aikawa brothers and sisters of the Gentiles, not any of the superior bloodlines - the ordinary (only) born in this world. You're human and not very strong--

　Leaving me baffled, Tiara vexedly continued.
　The names that come out of her mouth are all legendary beings from a thousand years ago. However, shaking off all of them, the Revan saints on this continent wish for me to reach--.

I want you to go to the 'deepest part' of the 'Otherworldly (...) Labyrinth' - and save the world. And I want you to save the world.

　That was too big of a scale.
　If you don't have any real feelings, you don't have any sympathy.
　Naturally, before I could think, I shook my head.

'I'm sorry, Tiara. I'm sorry, Tiara, but that's not possible. It's too much of a wish that has nothing to do with me. To be honest, I have no interest in capturing the labyrinth or world peace. Ask someone else to do those things for you: ......

　If Christ invites me to explore the labyrinth, I will be happy to help him. But then it will be Christ who will reach the Deepest Place, not me.

　All I want to do is to protect a few people - just a few - who are important to me and within my reach. I will probably spend a lifetime fulfilling that mission and I will die. That's about the extent of my capacity to do that, I think to myself.

　And yet, I don't want you to suddenly ask me to save the world.
　That's more than just a matter of empathy; it's a matter of practical impossibility.

'Yeah. I knew you would say that, Reiner. You really don't seem to be interested in the labyrinth, you know. Well, I'm not going to force you to do that, so just keep it in the back of your mind and that's fine.

　Easily, Tiara retreats.
　It looks like they knew from the beginning that I would say no. And even though I knew I was going to be turned down, I can also ...... sort of see what you wanted to say to me.

'If it's in the corner of your head, well, ......'
Well, the story is over. Well, the story has gone on too long, so let's get back to training. But we need to get out of here. We're too close to the city to be seen here.

　I guess that's all I have to say now. Suddenly, Tiara starts to move with a snap. She doesn't seem to have any more intentions of answering what I want to ask her.
　I let out a sigh and go along with it.

It's not a good idea for you to be seen ....... Do you want to go further afield?
Yeah. That's right. Ideally, a place with a good amount of monsters and danger.
'We're gonna train against a monster?　Then you'll find just the right place. There's a forest over there where you can excavate magic stones, and further north, there's a deep valley--
Uh-huh. I think you'll find it interesting--

　Together, Tiara and I move through the plains and enter the dangerous area of the settlement.

　--This is how the dialogue with Saint Tiara ends and the real special training begins.

　The content of that day's special training was very simple. It was very simple and very unreasonable.
　When I came to the monster-infested valley in the pioneer land, Tiara attacked me from the back by surprise - she mercilessly depleted my magic power with magic I had never seen before, drenched my brain with mental pollution, and pushed me off the cliff on a blindfolded handcuff.

　If you make a slight mistake, it's a quick death, with no recovery magic to be accepted. If I hadn't been able to protect my head with my arms on the way down the cliff, I would have actually died.

　The near-death experience is not an exaggeration, it's the truth, and I realized it while surrounded by a group of monsters at the bottom of the valley.

　But that was the first lesson in small-time-testing.
　After that, I would continue to hone my magic and skills by getting killed once a day - a bit of a grueling workout to pass the time until the ritual.