Once we survived Nosfi's ruse, we moved on to find the remaining roof of the building to treat Rastiara.
　Since the others, including me, were not unscathed, we made time to rest, including to recover our MP.

　Unlike the mansion that disappeared, the house that stands quietly in a corner of the underground mall - I chose that as my temporary base of operations.

　This time, he carefully checked for hiders and firmly rejected the intruders with Maria's wall of fire.
　Undoubtedly, I would be able to rest in peace here.

　I sit alone on the roof of a house, taking a breath and taking in the scenery of the underground city. Unlike last night, the breeze is a little warmer due to the fire being lit below, but it's pleasant enough.

　I'm sitting here in the name of taking up position on the roof and preparing for an unexpected attack with my eyes and 'senses', but I'm a little relaxed, not expecting Nosfi and the others to leave the castle.

　I sit down and hug my arms around my knees and stare blankly at the cityscape that has collapsed because of us.
　I don't have to count them, but I count the houses that have collapsed and try to account for the total damage. In my own world, it would be more than two hundred million dollars in terms of money. If I had to pay for this, it would be a difficult task with our current resources. I might have to accept the Senate's offer of 10,000 sacred gold coins.

　With a wry smile, I then try to calculate the cost of repairing the melted road.
　But that modest hobby is interrupted by a new visitor who appears on the roof.

Oh, you're Kanami's brother. There you are!

　Ragnae came flying in from underneath me, walking carefully on the unsteady stone roof to my side.

'It's a little hard to stay inside ....... I've been through a lot of shocks today, too, so ......

　I answer honestly why.
　After all, guarding is just a construct, and I just didn't have a face to show Rustyala and the others.

　Lagne must have sensed that.
　She nods, smiles, and slowly sits down next to me. Then she agrees, looking at the collapsed cityscape as I do.

'That's right ....... I didn't expect the young lady to go that far, either. I thought she had become more cautious since the incident when Kanami's brother kidnapped her, ....... I still can't believe that he would risk his life like that. ......
'No, Ragne, ....... Maybe Rastiara wasn't throwing his life away earlier.

　We've gotten to know each other better over the past few days, and we don't hesitate to speak our minds.
　We make the answers we can give each other because we both know we are similar.

That's the look on my face that convinced me of the bond I had with my friends and thought, 'I'm not going to die here.' Even if your limbs are blown off or your body is burned to ashes, somehow, in the end, you'll still be able to get to know everyone ...... It was a face that believed that in the end, we'll all have a happy ending together.
...... Oh, sure. You had that look on your face, didn't you? ...... Huh, I don't understand.

　In the face of Rastiara's strong and too powerful courage, Ragne-chan expresses the same impression as I do.

　Yes.
　We, who care too much about risk management, still don't fully understand her success when we see it.

　Despite that nature, we're a little disgusted by our own negativity.
　We both let out a big sigh, "Huh ......," and turn our faces down at the same time.

　But I can't stay depressed.
　I immediately think about the purpose of Lagne-chan's visit next to me, and I cut her off.

''Lagne-chan ....... How long do you think that scar on your cheek will last?

　I point to her cheek, which is wrapped in a cloth.
　Undoubtedly, Ragne must have come for this. In the course of events, I asked Dia and Snow, who had finished treating Rustyala, but after all, the wound didn't close up, and they came here as a last resort - that's how it should be.

'Hmm, will I be unable to move in another day or so?　I've been stitched up with thread and given Sith-sama's amazing recovery spell, so it's a little better now. I'm still bleeding a little bit, and to be honest, it's not good if it continues like this.

　Just like me, Ragne answers honestly with her inner feelings.
　She puts her hand on her cheek and looks at me with a troubled face.
　And then, without any mending at all, she asks me to get down to business.

''-- So, can I hurry it up a bit?

　She's really quick to talk with her.
　Ragne takes something out of her pocket.

''Could that be ......?''

　In the palm of her hand was a tuft of chestnut-colored hair in a clump.
　When I look at it, I understand all the meaning of the words.

''With this Nosfi-san's hair, let's see everything right now. With Kanami's brother's real 'magic (...)' or something like that--

　It's a solution to everything.
　But it's an option I've been putting off for a long time.

When will you get her hair ......?
I borrowed some from the back when we met. Oh, is that not enough for you?
'You won't know if it's not enough until you do it: ....... No, I'm more surprised than that. As usual, you're good at that kind of thing: ......

　Probably when he is in custody. If so, it's not impossible.
　However, if he had tried to cut his hair, he wouldn't have been silent, even with Nosfy. If he succeeded without being noticed at all, I'm amazed at Ragne's ability.

　I was handed Nosphy's hair and stared at a tuft of it.
　If I perform 'past vision' on it, I'll be able to find out a part of Nosfi's life. I've had the experience of looking at the land of the city before and confirming Maria's movements with my 'past vision'.
　I'm not confident that I can say it's perfect, but I should be able to do it even from this small amount of hair.

　However, I can't concoct the magic power to use the magic of 'past vision'.
　I simply don't feel like doing it .......
　As I stare and don't move, Ragne continues to talk with a serious expression on her face.

''Maybe Nosfi-san is just waiting for Kanami-san. I have a feeling that I'm not the enemy.
'That's what Rustyala told me: ....... But Nosfi and I really f*cked each other once in the labyrinth. We risked our lives for each other, seriously .......

　I make a bunch of excuses.
　To that, Ragune-chan shows a dumbfounded smile and repeats the morning's words as if she was soothing a child who was making up a silly story.

''I'm going to watch it to confirm the meaning of that battle. Kanami's brother, this is also a lesson three to know the heart of a woman, so I'll definitely do it.
'Oh, that's still going on: ......'
Yes, it's still going on. But it's a hassle and we don't have much time, so let's just use a quick trick. I heard from Reiner. Kanami brother says that his best magic is 'future vision' and 'past vision' ....... Why don't you do it?　The current Kanami brother has a spell that can be called a guardian's spell. The magic of 'past vision' is a magic that was created for this kind of situation, right?

　Thoroughly, Ragne continues to say the right thing.

　There is one reason why that magic was created.
　It's because I thought the best way to fight the guardian (Guardian) is to know the guardian (Guardian). Knowing your opponent leads to "regrets", and "regrets" leads to overcoming them.
　This is exactly the magic dedicated to erasing the guardians (guardians).

　You'll need to use that magic to erase Nosfi, take away the scripture, and heal the wound on your cheek.
　I'm rushing you to get on with it, Ragne-chan said I was rushing you.

''That's right, but ....... But that's great magic, so ....... If you use it, it could break the wards of this country .......
Let's break it down. I'm done worrying about it, aren't I?

　Ragne takes a swing at it.
　She's a tough girl.
　Lately, my friends have been lenient with me, which makes their severity all the more remarkable.

'I'll tell you something, I know you won't like it. I don't mean to be picky," he says. I'm not as nice as you guys.

　Lagne doesn't lose her seriousness and moves slightly to face me.
　I can feel the wariness from Ragne-chan, even though we're just sitting down and discussing each other in the safety zone.
　Now she's not letting her guard down, she's filled with magic, and she's always ready to fight.

　The eyes of a challenger.
　It's the eyes of a challenger, the same eyes I use when I challenge those who steal the logic.

　It's the same eyes that I have when I challenge those who steal the logic of the dimension, that is, I am trying to compete with those who steal the logic of the dimension with my true feelings.

　...... To be honest, I'm a little surprised.

　It's a good thing that you're able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.
　I'm sure you'll be able to see that the only person who can defeat me is my exact opposite, Rustyala. I thought so selfishly, but in reality, Lagune, who is just as timid and calculating as I am, is in front of me as a challenger.

　Facing her, I feel like I'm looking in a mirror for a bit.
　On the other end of that mirror, the girl lightly pokes me to my core.

'Kanami's brother doesn't want to hate himself any more after seeing ...... Nosfi-san's past, does he?
............


　I'm hit with a big target, and I contort my face and turn over.
　I continue to be silent but my expression shows my affirmation, and Ragne continues to speak relentlessly.

It's just that Nosfi-san's past is ...... just a past where Nosfi Fuzzya's is right and Aikawa Kanami is wrong. I'm sure you'll hate yourself if you see it.
I guess it's ....... I kind of know what you mean, too. According to Ragne, the three of us are very similar.

　And now I can understand what those mistakes were in the past.
　I, who fought against Ryner earlier when my head was in a bloody rage, is a good example.

　Probably, it's a story about Kanami, the founder of the "One who steals the logic of the dimension", who was too focused on "The One and Only Destiny", taking a wrong turn and causing trouble for many people. To be honest, I don't need to see it anymore to get the general idea.

　I answer the question in surrender.
　I don't have to mend anymore, so this is a relief.

'I've seen quite a few bits and pieces already, so I have a pretty good idea of what the whole thing is about. I'm just afraid to revisit it. If I'm going to look at my mistakes that I don't remember from now on, it's a bit: ....... It's just too much of a bummer.
"...... ha, mo. Kanami's brother is really a small man, isn't he? Admit it!
'If I could do that, I wouldn't have a hard time. ...... I'm that kind of guy. I'm a vain, perfectionist, reasoning person and a coward. I want Rastiara to think I'm cool, so I always pretend to be a good girl and only think about justifying myself. ...... haha.

　Maybe it's because I reviewed myself earlier in the fight with Ryner. My bad habits come out of my mouth easily.

　I can't help but want to be seen as a good person by others.

　That's why I strive to be a respected and admirable person.
　I've lived my life trying to respect morality, stand up for justice, and protect the weak.
　I think I've done a pretty good ...... job at this, too. I think I've tried to live up to my childhood aspirations, and I've tried to get closer to my ideal self.

　But it's hard to admit that I'm actually a bad guy, an evil that needs to be defeated.

''--I understand. Kanami's brother wanted to be a good boy who was adored by everyone. The 'only man of destiny' thing is just because it's not cool to be a man if you get swept along with the surroundings and start a polygamous marriage (harem), isn't it?

　Ragne sarcastically points out my eight-sided beauty.

'Probably something like that ....... I don't know much about myself these days, but if Lagne-chan says so, I guess it's true .......

　Ragne's words really come easily to my mind.
　It's not magic or skill. It's simple empathy that makes me honest.

　I haven't had this feeling of being able to say everything in my mind since I fought the Palinkron guy. No, Lagne is much, much closer to me than the Palinkron guy.

　I guess it's because I don't feel as much talent or threat from Lagne-chan as I do from the Palinclone guy.
　She uses a lot of small moves and talk, and she fights in a timid and calculating way.
　And it makes me feel very close and secure.

　I think.
　If you exclude all the privileges of this other world from me - the power of the 'Stealers of Reason', the legacy of a thousand years ago, and growth due to a blessed environment - I'm sure my status qualities value is the same as hers, around 1.12. It's the same as hers, around 1.12.

　Although I'm a bit better off than others, the advantage I had when I was a child will soon disappear, and I'll never be able to compete with the real geniuses. That's about the extent of my true self.

　The reason why I have the mighty power as the 'one who steals the reason of dimension' now is because I am paying a 'price' of some kind. It's a cheat reinforcement for illegal acquisition.

　The "price" of "chanting" is the pattern of unconsciously rewriting one's personality, of which the person in question is completely unaware. Maybe I'm one of them.

　The fight just now, when I thought Rastiara was going to die.
　All I could think about was fear. My chest grew heavy as if there was a lead ball in the middle of my heart. An unusually sticky brain. My thoughts slowed down and my whole body felt heavy. And I could only think of one thing. The one thing to protect is 'the one and only destiny'. That's all.

　It's strange to think about it calmly.
　It's not normal to lose perspective like that.
　Once, the skill '??' The "confusion" that I had inflated in my mind has disappeared and the state of affairs is completely blank - so there is no more abnormality in my mind - it was a trap to think that.

　I was able to successfully exploit the gaps in my thinking.
　With a laugh in my heart, I check my 'status'.


【Status】
　Name: Aikawa Uzumi HP543/543 MP1514/1514 Class: explorer
　Level 36.
　Strength 19.21 Strength 21.11 Skill 27.89 Speed 37.45 Cleverness 28.45 Magic 72.32 Element 6.21
[Skill]
　Inherent skill: swordsmanship 4.98
　Acquired skills: body arts 2.02 Sublime body arts 1.03 Dimensional magic 5.82+0.70 Magical combat 1.01
　　　　　　　Spellcraft 5.51 Sensory 3.62 Command 0.91 Rearguard Technology 1.01 Sewing 1.02
　　　　　　　Knitting 1.15 Deception 1.72 Blacksmithing 1.04 Divine Iron Forge 0.57
　Unique skill: pledge of the deepest (di-cavenator)
　　　 ? ?


　No, no.
　To be precise, this second skill '?? This is--

...... So, is that why Kanami's brother tried to be a stinking good person, the sister in the example?　Oh, by the way, I'm a mom. Just before she died, she cursed me to be the best girl she could be proud of.

　Bored with me being so auspiciously silent for so long and endlessly self-reflecting, Ragne brings up the next topic.

　It's really a conversation without any pretense anymore.
　She threw out a story that could only be revealed to a friend who had probably known her for years.

　Ragne's mother is dead .......
　It looks like her father is also not here .......

　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about the best way to get the most out of your time with us.

　I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what I'm talking about.
　A room next to the sky in the big city. The window where the rain was always beating down. The perfect space, furnished in light colors and free of dust.
　Of course, if I turned on the TV, I could see my parents. However, that room was the only place where I could see my parents up close and personal.

　My mother was an actress.
　She was a beautiful dark-haired person, if I were to praise my own immediate family.

　She had high hopes for me.
　I remember those words.
　She expected me to be a curse, "You're going to be a better actor than I am," just like Ragne and her.

　Next to her was not only my mother, but also my father.
　Yeah, they still expected me too back then ....... At first.

　And standing next to the expected me was my sister.
　My sister looked at me, too, and her eyes lit up ....... Until the end.

'No, I'm not the only sister ....... Maybe my whole family, including my dad and mom. Everyone in my family is really awesome ....... I was very desperate to somehow get a compliment from anyone in my family, at least once. ......

　I was really desperate.
　I wanted to be equal to those family members and the bar for my ideal self was very high.

'Hmm. Then I guess Nosfi-san is like that too. She's become a very good girl for Kanami's brother, you know.

　Ragnet says Nosfi is the same.
　She calls herself a bad girl and says she's the same .......

　And I agree with her with a wry smile.

'I suppose ...... it's true. I'm sure.
Yes, Mr. Nosfi is a good boy. He's a really good kid, but he's trying very hard to be a bad kid. It's important to know the reason for that. Let's have courage to look at it. Take a step forward and become a new you.
I know. Don't worry, I'm not strong enough to keep my mouth shut after all this.

　If I let it go, Ragne will continue to persuade me forever.
　I finally snap in front of her expression, prepared to definitely show Nosfy's past.

''I mean, I don't want Lagne-chan to think I'm uncool, so I can't say no.''

　That's the kind of guy I am, I am.
　It's not about another world, it's about my world. That's how we are made to live and think and choose that way.

I know. I don't like that kind of stinkiness in your brother.
Me too. I'm not very good with people like Lagune-chan, who are so elusive, but who get in your pocket before you know it.

　Me and Ragne laugh at each other and even disclose our dislike for each other.
　There is no acrimony there. On the contrary, there is a strange sense of security.
　I'm glad to have someone who has a similar weakness to me ....... It's such a shameful relief.

　After the two of us have laughed at each other enough, I'm ready to do the same with Lagune-chan.

''And if you don't do it soon, Rustyala and the others will leave you behind. ...... We need to meet up with them quickly before I start heading off down the wrong path somewhere.
'Oui!　Let's do it!　So, let's give the ladies a good report with a smile!
'Yeah, let's do it. I mean, let's just do everything we can.

　I nod and stand up.
　On the roof, I take a deep breath of air into my lungs and slowly expel the black emotions in my belly.

　As soon as I finish taking a deep breath, I switch what I exhale from my body to magical power.
　The amount is enormous as he intends to fill the space as well as clothe his body.
　The MP in "Status" is decreasing at a frightening rate.

　I'm prepared to have my MP go down to 0 at this point.
　If I hesitate at this level of risk, I will be disillusioned by many people.

　Nosfi is my friend, Ragne and Rustyala told me.
　Titi, who was friends with her, 'the one who steals the reason for the wind', also said it was my role to do so when we parted.
　I had been begged many times to help Nosfi.

　I'm already aware of this, but let's check it out.
　My time spent living underground with Titi had given me enough clues to answer the question.

　The best clue was the day Nosfi attacked me in my sleep. It was the second night after we met.
　Since I refused his request then, Nosphy had gone a little crazy.
　Furthermore, just before that I had an important dream.

　I don't know if it was because I had been in contact with Nosphy just before, but I'm pretty sure it was her memory.
　It was me and Nosphy in some unknown room, a thousand years ago.
　At the time, I was in a state of self-doubt and unable to reply, and Nosphy was burning with relish to take care of me.

　Once on the way, she spilled the word "father".

　That's not all.
　The hint was also in the deadly battle with her during their escape from the labyrinth.
　Indeed, she cast the fresh blood magic, Aikawa Kanami/Aikawa Hitaki.

　She accused me of having the blood of my siblings and I mixed in with her body.
　And the way she insisted on me.
　That gesture, that face, that way of life, it was as if--

''--Okay, do we have enough magic to cover the country with this? Let's get rid of the interruptions in activating dimensional magic first.

　I finish kneading enough magic power while I'm sorting through my head.
　If I release the compression upon compression of magic power that is currently filling the underground city, I will be able to envelop the entire Great Sacred City.

　It really is an increase in magic power.
　There's no way to compare the quality and quantity of it to when I was at level 1.
　Ragne-chan is seriously frightened next to me, "Scary ......," so I decide to diminish her anxiety as much as possible by talking about the work I'm doing.

"I'm going to make a 'connection' to the 'magic stone line' and seal each and every dimensional magic sealing technique--all of it. That's probably the quickest way to do it.
'The seal of the ...... seal?　I know what you're saying, but I have no idea how to do it. Can you really do it?
'You can. It seems I'm still one of those 'stealing the truth' people, so ......

　I've fought multiple 'stealers of reason' and won them all.
　Proud. A little pride.

　I can't fail on that pride.
　I take a giant leap from the roof to one of the streets in the underground mall. A curious Lagune follows me and stands next to me.
　So I put my hand on the ground and touched the 'magic stone line' under the soot.

''-- Magic 《Distance Mute》, Magic 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)》''

　He speaks the name of the magic.
　But because of the wards, he doesn't let the magic out of his body. I made a 'connection' to the hands and 'magic stone lines' that directly touch each other and let the unique cold air flow into them. If the magic leaks outside even a little bit, the magic is blocked by the wards, so it takes a lot of nerve.
　However, this kind of work is my forte.

I'm not going to be able to get it right. It's an old one. --dii-uinta.
Yeah, that's the one I used before. My image of a seal is that freezing is the easiest to do, after all.

　It's been a while since Dimensional Winter (Dee Winter).
　It is a magic that has only recently become reproducible due to the ability to change attributes within the body. Of course, since there is no magic stone from the 'The One Who Steals the Reason of Water' Yangtaki, it is less accurate and less fuel efficient than before.

　But 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)》 is 《Dimensional Winter (Di Winter)》.
　It is probably the best and most reliable magic I can use.

　I let that magic sink into the 'magic stone line' (line) and chill the magic formula that seals the dimensional magic. At times, the magic is forcibly pinched (...) and displaced (...) by the magic power, damaging the wards in the manner of "magic counterbalance (counter magic)".

　The "magic stone lines" are, by their nature, spread throughout the entire country and are connected to each other. Therefore, it is also possible to interfere with the entire Great Sacred City by following the magical stone lines from the underground city.

　It was like a virus that was infecting the equipment.
　The cold air transmitted through it, shutting down all the 'magic stone lines' in the underground city, and even invading the roads and houses in the Great Sacred City above ground, freezing every possible function.
　Thinking it's a bit of cyber-terrorism, I check the "magic stone line" seal.

　With this, the warding of the dimensional magic seal has already disappeared.
　What's more, the magic that makes people cheerful and energetic as an example has also disappeared.
　Now the enemy cannot be alerted or spotted.
　They can't contact or supply magic power either.
　We - the bandits can do whatever they want.

''Okay. For now, I think we've frozen all the 'magic stone lines' in the Great Sacred City.
What, already?　It's too easy: ....... Zee, is that all?
Yeah, everything. It's a nice surprise.

　Lagune was surprised by the speed of the move, but it didn't take much effort to penetrate magic into the 'magic stone line' (line), which was originally easy to transmit magic power. It is because of the fact that a unique 'connection' can be made with the 《Distance Mute》, but the 'magic stone line' is basically defenseless.

''I wonder if the ground is in an uproar right now ......?　So the magic supply that has been going on for so long is suddenly cut off: ......
That's right. The hospitals and government offices may not be able to rely on the "magic stone line," but if they are in trouble, they will be in trouble. Well, it's only a matter of time before people who are asleep don't notice, so I don't worry about it.

　As a matter of fact, since I could afford it, I haven't successfully turned down certain places such as hospitals to supply magic power. If this is known, she is likely to be cynical again, so she kept quiet, but from the way she speaks, it doesn't seem to matter if she refuses.

　But there is a contingency.
　I have no idea what people will do when they lose the benefits of Nosfi's bright and cheery wards. Let's get our objective over with quickly.

''Now I have deprived the people of the Great Sacred City of Nosfy's light. Even though it was a false brightness, there's no turning back now. --Magic Dimension.
'Whoa, finally, dimensional magic ......!　That's the past view!

　The obstructive wards are lifted and I get my first magical perceptual range in a long time.

　I can get a bird's eye view of everything in the underground city, including the interior of the house I'm currently standing in. I no longer have a hard time counting every single cobblestone, and I can quickly calculate the total damage of the battle ahead. Using his perception, he climbed the stairs leading out of the underground city and emerged into the Great Sacred City at night.
　The entire Great Sacred City is also filled with the Dimension. It envelops people, the houses, the roads, the bridges, the sky, the walls, and everything else, and puts them under the control of my magical power.

　Now I can see the number of houses on the ground.
　I can also see the number of people. I can see the number of houses on the ground and the number of people on the ground, and I can see where they are, who is doing what, what they are doing, and what they are feeling. If I wanted to, I could make Di Winter work.

　The next step, which will wrap the entire country, is Nosfi's hair, which is now in my hand.
　I'm going to put all of my magical power into this and build the real magic.

　If your current level and amount of magic is sufficient, there's no need to chant.
　No, that's not true. To begin with, is my life itself a 'chant'? Unlike most people, it doesn't matter whether the 'logic thieves' speak about it or not. I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not the only one. It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　I understand the source of my power - the risk of it, and I will build the real, true 'magic' in the true sense of the word.

"--Magic (...) "Dimensional Decisive Operation (Dimension Graduation) 'Prequel (Recall)'

　The magic that I have spent my life in this other world and reached the end of it.
　This is the magic that is all I have, and I'm going to unleash it on a tuft of hair in the palm of my hand.

　There is no light.
　Instead, a dark purple magic swelled in the palm of my hand.
　That's all the visual effect.

　But I'm the only one who can see.
　I can see not with the vision of my eyes, but with the metaphysical vision in my head.

　Nosfi's past.
　His birth, his way of life, and his feelings towards me.
　I will see everything.