The reception at the Epic Seeker base took place late into the night, making the most of the renovated and enlarged garden, and there were several times as many people there as there were in my group.
　The number of people there was several times larger than when I was a member of the guild. Surrounded by guild members, who easily exceeded three orders of magnitude, I was constantly bombarded with questions.

　At first, it was a celebration, and everyone was chatting and tasting the sumptuous food, but ...... soon the bad things about Epic Seeker began to come out. The guild members who had promised a rematch were forcing me to be taken to the base's equipped training grounds to repeat my old practice matches.

　An all-out competition, which is not really a welcome, begins, and I am forced to play practice matches endlessly. Yotaki and Maria, who were watching the situation from afar, did not try to stop me at all. Even without words, I could tell that they were saying, "I had it coming.

　That all-out competition began with the boar-headed Seri-chan, and for some reason, Agnes-chan challenged me in a three-on-one match, and we confirmed our abilities to deepen our friendship with Volzak-san and Teyri-san--in the end, we matched up with all the guild members and exhausted our hand-to-hand combat. The last thing that would bring us to the end of the day was a wound from Snow.

　The quintessential Walker family's 'strongest' and Snow is just about to be praised, and just as the sun is beginning to set and evening darkness is about to spread.
　The air of dismissal filled the training grounds. Just then, Snow came up to me, not wanting to let me go, and grabbed my hand tightly.

''-- Hey, hey, hey, Kanami!　Since you're here, come to our house today!
Home ......?

　I was getting ready to leave and was about to head back to the inn when I stopped in my tracks.
　Come to think of it, I wonder where Snow is laying down now. And Maria there.

　From what I saw earlier, it could be any of the Walker family's vacation homes. If they're renting one of the rooms in this 'Epic Seeker', they shouldn't be saying 'our house'.

'Yes, that house on the hill!

　Snow replies cheerfully.

　A house on a hill.
　There was only one thing that came to mind when I described it.

　It was the house I rented for money when I first started exploring the labyrinth.
　Eventually, I was only able to use it for a few days, but the house left a strong impression on me. After all, I was tested there by the guardians of the labyrinth. It's also the place where she disappeared after battling with Arti, the one who stole the logic of fire. I can't forget it.

The House on the Hill ......?　I mean, does Snow live in a place like that?　I mean, was that even left in the first place?

　I can still remember the house being consumed by the flames.
　I don't think it was in its original form after that battle.

It's still there. It's just that it's still there, or at least I heard it was rebuilt. Maria and I bought it because our work was close to the Wald area.
'I didn't know ....... You had to rebuild it after that. I mean, it was a rental house and you didn't reimburse me for it, I .......

　I realize that I forgot a lot of important things.
　Because I was a fugitive at the time, I didn't have the time to pay attention to such things.

　But don't worry about that, Maria joins the conversation.

'I've paid for it. Since Arti and I burned it, it's a strange story for Kanami-san to pay.''
'Oh, Maria did that for me: ....... I think it was pretty expensive, was it okay?
'No, it was cheap. When the building was rebuilt, the land where Kanami lived in the past seemed to have a premium value ...... and the people at the store weren't that angry. Most importantly, it was decided that Snow would live there after the reimbursement. Thanks in part to the Walker family's backing, the story ended peacefully.
Good.

　I'm a little uncomfortable with the premiere value thing, but if the people in the shop aren't unhappy with it, I have no problem with it. Once I'm reassured, Snow insists again, "That's why I'm living with Maria now.

So, I'm living here alone with Maria. Thanks to Maria, every inch of the place is clean.

　I turned my gaze to Maria.
　There she was, smiling and nodding at me.

'I had no choice. Snow-san, I announced to the Walker family that I was going to stand on my own with enthusiasm, but the next day, she cried to me ....... He said he had no one else to turn to before I dressed up around him.

　Maria easily divulged Snow's inner feelings.

　To that, Snow said, "Don't say it too loudly ....... It's a good thing that you're not the only one who's been in the market for a while. It seems to be a secret to the others, but from the expressions of the guild members around them, it looks like everyone knows about it.

''--Kanami-san, you're still the same as before, right?

　One word.
　Maria appeals to my memories of the past.

　The house where Maria and I used to live together.
　Like Snow, Maria had the same determination to invite me to join her.

　When I looked at the guild members around me, Volzak-san called out to me ahead of me.

'Leave the cleanup here to me. I'm not going to leave this kind of chores to an honorary lifetime master.

　He reacted quickly.
　Maybe he was listening in nearby. In spite of his scarred and strong face, Volzak-san is a person with such a fine attention to detail.

''No, that's not how it works. 'No, that's not how it works, I'll help you clean up.

　Immediately I try to deny it, but the woman in the guise of a wizard next to Volzak-san - Teyri-san - covers me with an even stronger denial.

''No, Kanami-kun. By ingratiating myself in detail like this, it's my intention to get you to help me when the 'Epic Seeker' is really in danger.

　Teyri looks at me sharply.
　She's the first to try to get me and Snow together. I'm sure she'll do whatever it takes to get what she wants.

　I feel I can't say no to her, so I have no choice but to leave her in charge of the base.

...... then, I'll take care of it.
Yeah, go ahead. The master needs a long rest.
Take care of Snow, Kanami!　Snow!　Our snow!

　I ignore Teyri and only say 'yes' to Volzak and bow to him.
　With that, we say our goodbyes to the people around us and leave the 'Epic Seeker' headquarters.

'Kanami, this way. Ehehe. ......

　Then, with an overjoyed Snow's loose face, he leads the way to the house. His hand is still holding mine, and the eyes of those around us hurt.

　We don't have to hide as we walk down the white stained streets of the Confederacy.
　I can see the residents putting their hands over their mouths and whispering to each other. We don't need to use the Dimension to know. Right now, the rumors that the head of the Walker family is talking about are intensifying.

　Maria must have sensed this as well as me.

Haha ....... Mr. Snow, let go.
What do you mean, let go of what?
It's a hand. It's very visible.

　Maria pointed to the linked hands, followed by a look around. Caught up, Snow also moved her eyes, which had been on me the whole time, to look around.

'I don't ...... care.

　When Snow refused in understanding, a smiling Maria released her magic without a pause as Snow refused.

''Hot--, hot!

　Maria's flame dexterously burned only Snow.

'I know you're happy about many things, Snow. But please be moderate. It's a bad habit these days.'
'Ma, Maria, just because it's me, I have a bit of firepower ......'
'You wouldn't let go of your hand if it wasn't like this, would you? You're not even related by blood, but you're a lot like your mother-in-law.
'Yeah, yeah ....... No, Maria is starting to look more like your mother-in-law these days. ......
'It can't be. Unlike that man, I'm not paranoid at all.
Oh, really?

　Snow, away from me, goes to stand side by side with Maria, chatting amiably.

　I watched it - I felt a strong sense of discomfort. Unable to grasp the true nature of that uncomfortable feeling, I couldn't say anything, only slowly turning my eyes to Yotaki behind me.

　She too was watching quietly.
　She is walking at the farthest back, not trying to interrupt the conversation at all.

　As I ponder the meaning of this, we reach our destination.

　At the top of a hill with a great view.
　The labyrinth is close and there are few other buildings. It's a perfect location for the explorers of the Valt. There is a single house there.
　It's neither large nor small. Although the house is basically made of wood, it is equipped with the latest system using magic stones everywhere, and you can tell that it's a priceless house just from the outside.

　It's nostalgic.
　I wonder if they went out of their way to recreate the same building as before.
　The same house I knew was there.

　Snow and Maria lead me into it.
　The interior was the same.
　I walked through the familiar front door to the large living room with a view of the kitchen.

　As soon as we reached there, Maria said, "I'll hurry up and prepare a meal. Kanami-san is our guest today, so please take your time," she said, and headed for the kitchen. Knowing her personality, I did as I was told and got to the table in the living room to relax. Then I turn to Snow, who naturally doesn't help Maria, and talk to her.

So, what are you going to do now, Snow?　I thought you were done with that pioneering mission,
Yeah, you're finally done. And now that I've finally had a decent break, I'll start helping Kanami explore the maze tomorrow.
You don't mind that this is your day off, do you?

　The fact that the war between the North and the South is at a standstill probably explains why he is taking this leave so easily for a former deputy commander in chief. Of course, Snow's tone suggests that he had to ask for his leave quite aggressively.

Of course it's fine. Of course it's fine. I'll be physically and mentally fit and become Kanami's partner. That dream has never changed.

　Following the house on the hill, there was another word that I missed.
　A partner in a labyrinthine quest. Not a one-sided relationship, but a supportive one.

'Kanami, if you don't mind?'

　Snow begged emphatically for permission to join the labyrinth search.
　In both of his eyes, he seemed to have the confidence to have overcome his experience as a military officer and his feud with the Walker family until today.

''Yeah. Let's go to the labyrinth together.

　I nodded, making sure the discomfort I'd been remembering all along had swelled to its maximum.

　I know that Snow has grown up to be a great guy.
　But this is a little ...... strange.

　I'm sure Snow wasn't as confident in himself as he should have been. To be honest, there was a section where he had given up on the goal of being a partner, but half of the time he had given up. The reason for this is that there was a 'big reason' (・・・・・) for the loss of confidence.

　--I'm sure you're not going to be able to find any trace of that 'big reason' in this world.

　That's why Snow is so vibrant in this way.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.

　While confirming the identity of the discomfort, I inform Snow of the current state of search, having promised to explore the labyrinth. However, when Snow finds out that we've reached the deep end in the past few days, she says, "What, eighty-five floors already? He looked a little uneasy. However, that anxiety was dispelled by Maria who brought the meal.

''--I'm here too, so it's okay. Snow-san.
'Oh, I see. ...... That's right. You'll be safe with Maria. It's nice to meet you, Maria.

　Snow takes a plate of food from Maria and returns to his bright face as he lays it out on the table.
　The depths of the labyrinth are scary, but if Maria is there, she has an expression of calmness.

'Ehehe. Let's use the rest of the day to show Kanami all the good things about you.

　My mouth is saying my name. But Snow looked at Maria, not me, and smiled.
　He seems to be directing his gratitude and strong trust in Maria for her encouragement.

　At that moment, I suddenly felt the loneliness that I had felt even with Deah.
　At the same time, what I felt today when I saw the state of the 'Epic Seeker' comes clearly into my head in the form of words.

　-- the two of them have already gotten what they both wanted.

　If it's 'family', then Snow is fulfilling that role, and if it's 'partner', then Maria is fulfilling that role.
　They complement each other and live an ideal life together. If this is the book, then all that's left to do is get into the final chapter and wait for the end. That's how much relief I felt from this nostalgic home.

　When I wondered if this was the intention (...) of this "Gentle Winter World", my younger sister Yotaki, who had been maintaining silence for a long time, spoke up.

''Snow-san, have you already decided on your next job?''

　It was next.
　When asked the question, Snow happily answered Yotaki.

'It's all set, sister. Your next job is on the mainland, representing the Walker family in various capacities.
'I see. ...... I'm just saying that lightly, but it sounds like a pretty big job. I mean, you're going to take the place of that master of the house.
'Yes, your mother-in-law's replacement: ....... But--

　Snow turns her eyes to Maria again.
　The two, now sisters-in-law, look at each other and smile at each other.

''My sister-in-law told me to go with you and assist you. Your mother-in-law doesn't seem to believe in Snow-san with all her heart yet.
'Heh. If Maria is with you, you won't have to worry about her. I'm sure that the two of you will be able to help each other with each other's weaknesses. Just like the partners I just mentioned.

　Yotaki praised the bond between the two of them.
　That statement seemed to confirm my current assumption.
　Hearing this, Snow did not deny it, but continued a little shyly.

...... Yeah. To be honest, Maria is very dependable.
'You're not very good at taking advantage of each other, Snow. I will take on the aristocrats' deceitfulness. For that, though, I'll do my best to use the foil that is Snow Walker.

　It would be an ideal division of labor.
　This way, I can rest assured that the two of us will be heading to the mainland. Yotaki speaks for my feelings.

''We have a really good relationship ....... So, have you decided when you'll be leaving?
Well, I'm pretty sure it's not...

　The banter continues.
　Maria, Snow, and Yotaki talk about the bright future as they work on the food on the table.
　In the midst of their banter, I didn't say anything unnecessary.
　There was no need to say anymore.

　Then, after a few moments of peace and quiet, the dinner that Maria had prepared was over.

　Yotaki, who must have talked it all out, finally drank a glass of water and broke off to say goodbye.

''--Ah. Before you know it, it's getting so dark. ...... So, I think it's time to leave. It was very good, Maria.

　I thank him for the meal and leave the table.
　To which Maria smiles and replies, "Come again," she says.

　My sister, Yotaki, is about to leave.
　Behind her, my brother, I--.

"Yotaki, I'm thinking of staying here today. ......

　It doesn't go by.
　Naturally, the homeowners are surprised by that statement.

What?
Kanami, ......?

　Snow was simply delighted and Maria wondered.
　The only person who understood what was behind my words was Yotaki.

'Yes, I know. I've heard that this was Arti's final resting place. And Maria, who inherited everything from her, is also here. Please, go ahead and have a 'past view' of Arti to your heart's content. Brother.
'If we're going to do it, we need to know about it early. You can find out more about Alty at .......

　When I told them it was for magic, Snow and Maria's surprised expressions loosened when I told them it was for magic.

''Just because I'm not here doesn't mean you should do anything weird, okay?
'I know. I mean, if I'm going to 'see past', I'm not going to sleep today, I'm going to be spellbound. It's more like renting a place than staying in.
Of course. Well, then, I'm going back to the inn first.

　Without any particular bargaining, Yotaki went home alone.

　I had been thinking of a strategy to get Yotaki away somehow, but I had shrugged it off. But on the contrary, I felt that the goodness of Youtaki's understanding was proof that everything was in the palm of your hand.

　Thus, I was the only one left in the house, and Snow asked me without hiding her happiness.

'What?　Um, so ...... does it feel like Kanami is staying in my room today?
No, why would I do that? Listen to me, Snow. I'll rent the corner of the room where Maria sleeps. When Maria is asleep, I'll cast a dimensional spell on her body.
What ....... Thank you for--

　Snow stopped mid-sentence.
　He then proceeded to show that he was an adult with room to spare.

'Then I'll sleep in my room so as not to interfere with the magic.

　I could see that he was thinking about all sorts of good things.
　I won't interfere, but he'll at least eavesdrop on the example, at the very least.

　As if Maria also has a premonition of this, she stands up with a bitter smile on her face.

'Well then, let's get an early night's rest today, shall we? If I go to bed early, Kanami-san will probably find it easier to do 'past vision'.

　Maria understands that even though the sleeping quarters are the same, they won't be able to settle down and talk about it, and she quickly prepares for it.

'It would help if you did. It's a little embarrassing to stare at Maria's awake face and use magic.

　I thanked her as I helped Maria clean up her food.
　Snow does the same as I do, lowering his plate and giving a chimney.

'I'm really tired today! As for your mother-in-law, I made too much noise with 'Epic Seeker' - ......

　With the three of us working together, the cleanup was soon done.
　As it was, we left the living room and went into our respective rooms.

I'll see you tomorrow then. Kanami, Maria.

　We wave at each other and part ways with Snow.

　Then I go into the same room as Maria.
　This is another familiar room.

　Immediately, Maria goes to bed and I sit on the sofa provided.
　As I said earlier, Maria seems to be planning to sleep right away.

　Only, before I close my eyes, Maria mutters.

''It's a little nostalgic. The two of us here, sleeping like this: ......'

　Sleeping in this way - probably on the first day I bought Maria and her as a slave. I remember sleeping unfaithfully that day, feeling extremely confused and defeated. Thus, I was on the couch.

'Yes. Reminds me a bit of that time.
'Back then, I was a slave and Master Kanami was my master. Master told me that he wasn't, and indeed he was: ......
I remember Maria being really stubborn and troubled.

　I respond to the memories in a light-hearted tone.
　When Maria hears this, she laughs and says, "Hmmm" - after a pause, she says a few words.

'Can you hold my hand until I fall asleep?'

　I hope so.
　I look at Maria's face with surprise.

　Maria doesn't turn her face to me.
　She is clutching the blanket with her left hand and pulling it closer, shyly hiding the lower half of her face. And from the hem of the blanket, there is a small hand sticking out of the hem of the blanket.

'-- I really wanted to grip it. That day.

　What I couldn't say, I'm saying now.

　I have no choice but to respond to it.
　There was a reason for that, and my body is built that way too.

　I found a suitable chair, sat down next to the bed instead of the couch, and took Maria's hand in mine.
　Then she meditated reassuringly.

'Goodnight ....... My favorite master .......

　I muttered my former sarcasm, this time in a straightforward manner.

　Ah .......
　Maria is the same as Snow.
　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

　-- that must have been a really, really 'big reason'.

　So now, finally, Maria doesn't stand tall and shows her age.

　And Maria begins to breathe in her sleep.
　In a short amount of time, she was truly relieved and fell asleep.
　After watching her sleeping face for a while, I unfold the Dimension.

　I see that Snow, who is in the next room, is also sleeping in her bed. Hearing that our conversation has stopped, he seems to have fallen asleep as well.

　I'm now the only one awake in the house.

'Magic, we have to use it ......'

　Immediately I spring into action.
　Although I have plenty of time to spare, it's not infinite.

...magic [Distance Mute].

　However, the magic I used was not 'past vision'.
　I moved Maria's hand to the bed and then made the hand in which it was held transparent.

　Then, without Maria's notice, I left the room.

　If I had done 'past vision' in that room, I would have definitely been able to see Arti's life.
　Maria and Yotaki had recommended it, but I had no intention of doing so.

　I followed the impulse that came from my heart and searched for what I lacked.

　There was something intuitive about it.
　Now that Yotaki was gone, I had to find something to fill the missing feeling I was feeling from The Epic Seeker. And that missing thing must be in this house.

　Walking soundlessly through the creaking corridor, I let my instincts guide me to expand the 《Dimension》.
　Of course, Maria and Snow - so thin and wide that no one in this world will notice.

　The layout of the house is the same as before.
　A grand entrance and living room, a fine kitchen and bathroom.
　There is one bedroom and two guest rooms.

　I've just come out of the bedroom.
　I take a look at the living room and bathroom, and also take a quick look at the guest room where Snow sleeps.
　There's nothing remarkable about it.
　Nothing mind-blowing either.

　Finally, you enter the second of the remaining guest rooms and look around the room.
　This one is not much different from the other rooms in terms of furniture and layout.

'............?'

　This is the only place that felt a little different from the others .......
　There's a sense of life here that shouldn't be there .......

　The bedroom is used by Maria and the guest room next door is used by Snow.
　Even in the past, this room should not have been used.
　Back then, it was just Maria and the two of them, and there was no such thing as a third--

What--?

　Just when I thought there was no third person, the darkness in the corner of the room moved.
　The edges of my vision caught the brown-skinned child running, hiding in the shadows, and disappearing.

　Immediately I reached into my 'possessions', grabbed my sword, and prepared to use my magic.
　I moved the Dimension instead of my eyes and prepared for a surprise attack from every possible direction, when one anomaly caught my attention.

''Sword ......?''

　There was a single sword lying haphazardly in the corner of the floor.
　No doubt, it wasn't there when I looked around the room earlier.

　I also find the window in the room open and the snow blowing in the nighttime darkness.
　I 'gazed' at the beautiful silver sword exposed to the snow.


[Heavenly Sword Noah]
　Attack power 7.
　Wear rate -99%.


　My heart beats with the most powerful heartbeat of the day.
　My body is drawn to the nostalgia of the sword, not by its superbly crafted silverwork, but by the nostalgia of the sword.

'This sword, who ......

　I wonder who brought it in.
　Obviously, someone had entered the room now.
　Unnoticed by me, a dimensional wizard, he appeared suddenly and disappeared.

　Then he left his sword behind.

　I can't take my eyes off the sword.
　The more I look at it, the more I feel like the precious emotions that were lost are coming back. I can also see that this sword is the uncomfortable feeling I've been remembering all day, and the piece I'm losing.

　If it were a landscape painting, this sword would be the sun.
　I'm convinced that it's the 'big reason' for Snow and Maria's example, and I reach out my hand - and

............

　Halfway through, I stopped.

　It was a physical experience that had seeped into his body.
　This was no different than when I was once deprived of my memories.
　The protagonist, deprived of his memory, interacts with his former friends, touches things that are related to the past, and slowly regains himself...

　--It's impossible.

　Unlike before, I know this one won't be as nice.

'I'm not like that guy ....... Yangtaki is different .......

　In the midst of a light house search, did you find an important piece?
　Conveniently, your memory is starting to come back a bit now?

　--there shouldn't be.

'Yotaki is not normal ....... He is stronger than any guardian (Guardian). Definitely stronger .......

　To be honest, I didn't sense any hostility from the brown kid I saw earlier. On the contrary, I sensed a willingness to cooperate with me. I can't confirm it, but I believe it's a gentle rescue with a different mouth from Yotaki's.

　But that gentle relief is in the palm of Youtaki's hand.
　I want to tell you that, so I continue talking to myself in the empty room.

'Yotaki is strong ....... More than the apostle, more than me, more than anyone else in this world ....... If I can be equal to Yotaki, it's only me ....... There is only me. So--

　I'll appeal to you that you don't need any relief.
　I'll advise that 'reason' so that the gentle rescuers don't continue to challenge an opponent they can't beat.

''--[No one can defeat Aikawa Yotaki]

　This much is absolute.
　No joke, Yotaki will always win in the end, no matter how unreasonably unfavorable the rules are.

　This 'in the end' is a particularly terrible part of the game.
　My sister doesn't let the defeated realize that they're going to lose before they know it. On top of that, she's very good at manipulating them behind the scenes.

　That's what happened to our family not long ago.
　I was the ultimate example of that since I came to this other world.

　The first time I was summoned to another world, I was elated and said "I'll cure Yotaki's disease". It's not just a matter of time before you get to the point where you can't get out of the magic of sleep.

　--No way.

　Because it was all a lie, Yotaki was able to come to the 'summit' of Fuzzyards Castle on that 'day Aikawa Uzumi came back to life'.
　He came to snatch the 'best' of this other world at an unparalleled time.
　This meant that she could move whenever she wanted, without needing to receive treatment from Ayd or Nosfi, she could move whenever she wanted.

　All along, behind the scenes, Yotaki had been doing everything the way she wanted it to be done.
　The result is this lukewarm illusory world. Naturally, everything I do here is in the palm of YouTaki's hand. Probably, what I'm thinking about now is also within the range of Yotaki's expectations. I've been manipulating my sister behind my back for a long time, and I've been following her manipulations without any sense of discomfort, and so...

"--Ha. ...... Let's have some water.

　The memory had returned a bit, and the childhood trauma was about to return.
　My thoughts were about to fall into a dangerous circle of circles - but I took a breath without panicking and calmed myself down.

　Then, without using magic, he grabbed the 'Heavenly Sword Noah', placed it in his 'possessions' appropriately, and walked out of the guest room.

　The destination is the kitchen in the living room.
　There's a magical stone line in there, so you can always have safe and cold water to drink.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with them.

　--I'm sure that I may be in the palm of Yotaki's hand right now.

　But that doesn't mean that everything is hopeless.
　From The Gentle World of Winter, we get a glimpse of Yotaki's intentions, which have been invisible all along.

　Now, what is most emphasized here is probably "the friends who are leaving one by one for the mainland".

　Protected by the Alais family, Dear has started a new life with a new friend.
　Maria and Snow, hand in hand under House Walker, heading to their new home.
　From the sequence of events up to today, it's clear that they're trying to convince me to part with my friends without leaving me 'untreated'.

'I guess I'm trying to reduce the number of people who get in my way ....... I'm trying to diminish my people, and diminish them ....... After that, you can go to .......

　Also, I feel like Yotaki is trying to end my story in my other world.
　And that too, in a way that I won't be frustrated with, very nicely.

　If that's why I'm raising my level to the limit and organizing my friendships in the other world, ...... that means my real time up might not be the moment my level rises to the maximum, but when I don't have a single person I know around me anymore.

　When that time comes, I'll have no choice but to move.
　Just like ■■■■, I have to take advantage of Yotaki's gap that I'm sure of winning.
　Even if I couldn't understand Yotaki's feelings by then, I'm absolutely obligated to carry it out.
　Otherwise, the world outside the hallucination would forever remain swallowed by the glacier.

.............

　Honestly, it would be difficult to exploit Yotaki's slackness.
　However, I can never lose. Because I know that this is the last time, I, as the older brother, have to end up winning.

　With that strong sense of responsibility in mind, I walk to the kitchen.
　Then, with trembling hands, I pump cold water into a wooden cup and pour it down my throat.

'Feng ......'

　I slowly dropped my gaze as my stomach chilled.
　There was a faucet there that looked exactly like my world.

　A thousand years ago, I might have told Tiara about the water supply and the refrigerator.
　That's why today's world is so full of civilization.

　Of course, we don't have enough accumulated science, so we're just using magic to replace them.
　The energy infrastructure that replaces electricity and heat is done with these 'magic stone lines' (lines). The demon energy runs through the magical stones unique to this other world and runs through the entire city, and this is how I can taste cold and hot food. When I was looking at the "Magical Stone Line" in the kitchen, I became a little distracted.

.......

　I found a red stain.

　--Is that blood?

　There's a drop of blood on the "magic stone line".
　Maria may have made a mistake while cooking.
　I was casually trying to wipe it off with a nearby rag--

What?


　-- its blood avoided the rag (...).


　Then it moves agilely, as if it were crawling, and adheres to my skin, not the rag.
　Furthermore, the blood has heat, emits magic power, and activates the engraved magic formula.
　The magic goes into effect.

Wha--?

　Many questions fly while trying to get rid of the blood with my hands.

　The blood--!　Why?　Who owns this magic?　It's hot, but it's not Maria. Probably not Fafner or Yotaki. But other than these three, I don't have any idea who else would use such magic power--!

　Without an answer, that blood interferes with my blood.
　It seeps in like the light from the former "The One Who Stole the Reason of Light" and forces me to activate my magic, "Dimensional Decisive Operation (Dimension Graduate) 'Prequel (Recall)'".

　I began to lose consciousness from my own magic.

''This is--''

　Great (...).

　When I realized this was a trap, I didn't swear, I envied the brilliant maneuvering.

　I was completely caught off guard. For me, who had been wondering how to exploit the gap in the impresario yotaki, there was nothing more admirable than this.

　However, before all of that praise can come out of my mouth, I go back in time.
　The last thing I saw in my field of vision was the light of the magical stone line. The demonic stone line shines with unprecedented misery and envelops my body.

　And beyond that memory, I knew.
　The name of the person who nearly took me by surprise.


◆◆◆◆◆ ...


　--the second 'past vision' has begun.

　However, it's a big change from the original plan.
　I would be transported not a thousand years ago, but to a more recent past.

　I knew the date immediately.
　I was certain that even in the long history of this other world, this scene could only happen once.

　The place is the great holy city of Fuzzyards on the mainland. At the 'top' of that castle, two enormous magical powers were facing each other.

　--Today is 'the day Aikawa Uzumi (me) came back to life'.

　Light and stars.
　From the color of the magic power reflected in my vision, I immediately recognized them as Nosfi and ...... Lagune.

　Yes, Ragne Kaikwola - it took me a little while to recognize her because her name had been erased where I was earlier. Apparently, Ragne is severely disliked by Yotaki.

　The two of them are at the 'summit' who can no longer exist only in the past. However, the gaze shifts as if they are not the ones to look at.

　First of all, the castle is directly below.
　More than ten thousand Fooziers soldiers were roaring with victory in the decisive battle, pushing back all the blood that had invaded the Great Sacred City to the inside of the castle.
　However, the cheers did not last long. A huge wolf appeared from inside the castle, carrying many of the wounded, and a great unrest ran through the soldiers, which could be seen from a distance.

　There, the gaze moves further.
　The eyes, which were shaken by the shaking, finally arrived at their own feet.
　It is my own toes standing on the roof of one of the many houses on the ground in the Great Sacred City.

　That's where I came to know the person who was the starting point of the "past vision".
　Black shoes on my toes. Above my knees, the hem of a frilly black dress. Black nails on the tips of his fingers.

'Ah, ah, here we are (...) ....... Maybe that (...) is now ......

　It was the girl with the faintest memory in my mind - one of the students of 'The One Who Stole the Reason of the Tree' Aide, Noir-chan, the black 'Magic Stone Human (Jewelculus)'. The girl who always looked me in the eye and had been turned back many times.

　On this day, the ones who were heading to capture Hoozeyards Castle, controlled by Ragne Kaikwola, the self-proclaimed 'The One Who Stole the Reason of the Stars', were led by 'Nosfi' and the nine members of 'Nosfi', 'Dia', 'Rustyala', 'Snow', 'Maria', 'Maria', 'Reaper', 'Reiner', 'Persiona' and 'Sera'. --However, this tenth person, Noir-chan, was the only one who did not participate and seemed to be in the background. To her, the base of magic is now overlapping with her.

''That's ...... in the castle.

　Noir-chan was shivering with frost all over her body.
　From the way she looked as if she had walked through the extreme cold, she seemed to have received some kind of freezing magic.

''I lost again ....... I was chosen by Sith-sama as a 'saint' ....... I am the most precious, wonderful and noble being in the world ...... but that was ....... That is ......!

　His voice is trembling, too.

　Thanks to my 'past vision', I was able to see into Noir's inner life.
　Now she remembers the fight just before and is terrified.

　She managed to inspire herself by calling herself a 'saint', but it was an emotion she couldn't shake off with just those words.
　It is true that 'saints' are precious, wonderful, noble and strong. However, I met a monster that lightly surpassed that. The magic power that it wore was divine, and it was too much in another dimension. Black hair and eyes that seemed to be cut out of the darkness - that's where my brain refused to recognize that thing's appearance.

''Ugh, aaaaaaah......!

　--just one look at me and I was defeated.

　Not by magic, but just by being cursed by magic, I was frozen to the core to the point that my exhaled breath turned white. Ice grains covered my skin and took all the heat from my body and mind, and I fell face down and squatted down.

　I was broken, not only in my body, but also in my mind.
　With a single glance ......!

　I don't want to remember any more.
　Remembering it will break my broken heart the next time.
　I'm confident that I'd rather choose self-determination than face that again.

　A lot of things had been entrusted to me by people I know, but it doesn't matter anymore.
　What's the point, "We're going to put all of our strength into retaking Kanami from now on." "So, I'm leaving it to you. You're just going to have to hide." "We'll take out the enemy ourselves." "I was the best of the lot," you said. "Just be far away and protect her" - that was a big lie.

　It was supposed to be called "The Girl Trapped by the Sleeping Curse". ......
　It moved. It moved and spoke to me. ......!

'You want me to protect that thing ......!　It's crazy: ......!　Mr. Quager, Kiza's Elmirado, the Kiza's Elmirado, the idiot present god, everyone and everybody, no one in this world, no him!　You're all out of your minds!

　Especially horrible, after I moved.

　When the girl woke up from her sleep, she thanked me.

　I can still tell.
　That was really just a thank you.
　I only spoke one word of thanks.

　However, the magic power on a single word was so substandard - I was half-mad.
　I felt as if I had been thrown into the monster's mouth, and without knowing what was going on, I unleashed an all-out attack magic in all directions. There was enough threat in that thing to do so.

''That was strange ....... That thing, it's already a person or magic ....... It's beyond ...... that kind of thing.

　But that full-bodied attack of mine was lightly swallowed by her. I was just sucked into the magic of the girl who was just standing there - and disappeared.

　The girl didn't even look at my footsteps.
　After I thanked her, she treated me like I was a stone on the side of the road ....... She didn't seem to feel anything about freezing me with her magic, or being attacked by me with magic, and she walked away, leaving me ......!

' -- frustrated. But more than frustrated, I'm already ...... and I'm .......

　Before I can say it, something falls on the tip of my nose with a plop.
　Immediately I look up to see what caused it.

''Ti, magic rain (Tiarray) ......?''

　I knew right away that it wasn't.
　I am still one of the world's greatest wizards with this. I can at least tell if it's a particle of magic power or not, just by feeling the air.

　In other words, this is not a phenomenon of magic power, but a change in the weather.

　The color of the sky is gradually changing.
　Little by little, the morning sun that illuminates the Great Sacred City is being swallowed up by darker colored clouds.
　I knew that weather.
　Accidentally, Dr. Aide had told me about it.

'Snow?'

　So we know how unusual this is.
　An unusual weather event that had never been possible in the past thousand years of history.
　In the face of this cataclysmic event, the one word that comes to my mind is.

　--se, the end of the world (・・・・・・) ......?

　It would have been a ridiculous word in normal times, but it was familiar to me now.
　It was because I had an idea of what caused it.

　--It's that. Absolutely, it was that thing from earlier.

　With a single glance, it froze a person.
　It could have changed the weather just by walking.

　And at the same time, I'm worried.
　The girl who woke up didn't respond to my best magic. I didn't have to, so they let me off the hook.

　However, the place I'm heading to now is Hoozeyer's Castle.
　It's a place where the monsters known as 'The Stealers of Reason' are located.
　They have all the greats to rival them.

　This could be a situation where that girl needs to be proactive.

　And what happens if she does?
　It started snowing just as we were walking.
　If you fight, what happens?　

　Scary, scary, scary.
　Scary, scary, scary.
　Just scary, scary, scary--!

'I'm scared, Rouge: ......

　I unintentionally uttered the name of the supposedly separated half of my body in a pitiful manner.
　It was also the moment I admitted that I had given up on challenging the strong man.

'Yes, I did ....... I knew it. I knew it, since the very beginning!

　I fully acknowledge that everything is broken.
　Hence, I will no longer mend my thoughts.
　I'm going to fill my broken heart with a sore loser.

　It's crazy.
　Everything has been strange since that man showed up.
　That sister was even stranger.

　I can't hang out with her. ......
　I shouldn't have to deal with that brother and sister anymore.......
　You're never going to see them again. ......
　And that's a good thing. Best move. Wise choice. I finally get it: ......!

'So!　I'm not going to help you. ......!　I'm getting away!　To the north with the rouge!　Rouge, Rouge Rouge Rouge. ......!　My precious half of my body!　Don't hold it against me, folks!　It's the fault of everyone who continues to be involved with a man like that: ......!

　So I let the swearing fly, and turned on the heat to my own frozen body.
　Fortunately, my frozen body isn't that seriously ill.
　I have enough magic and strength left to escape.

　Immediately I turn on my heel and turn my back on the castle and the battlefield and try to run out.
　Only to feel a strange magical power at my feet at the start of it, and I stop in my tracks.

''--?''

　Wriggling-- blood?

　A spoonful of blood was moving along the 'magic stone line' of the street.
　Is it the magic of the "One who steals the reason for blood" as usual? Even if the knights of the Fusyars had done the job of removing the blood, it was far from perfect. Thus, the fact that a small amount of blood remained is not that strange.

　But I am certain that this is the blood of a monster.
　I felt as if I was taking it out on them, and trying to kick that blood--

d*mn it!


　--But the blood leapt like a beast and avoided my feet (...)


--Huh?

　And the blood sticks to my skin and immediately emits light.
　What's more, the 'magic stone line (line)' that had been wriggling just now also shines in the same way.
　Magic power runs through the blood and the 'magic stone line (line)', passing through the same magic formula, and a single magic is activated.

''......!　Why--why is this here--?

　As the blood invades me, I understand.

　--this is different.

　This is not the blood of the one in the castle. This is the one that has been hiding behind the "blood thief" that is reputed to be destroying the world - a being of a higher order.

　That thing caught me as I was about to escape from offstage, saying, "This is convenient.

　And I can't resist.
　I'm the world's greatest wizard, and I can't resist that blood magic at all.
　This me, this me, this me ......!　This me, ah, ......!

'Yes, I have to go (・・・・・・) ......'

　I was forced to mutter words I didn't want to say, and I performed a 'demonization' that was hard on my body.
　Forming wings from my black clawed fingertips to my sides, my entire body is transformed into a thin layer.

　Becoming a black bat, I leap onto the roof.
　My goal is not outside the Great Sacred City, but the castle, the center of the battlefield.

　I can't stop sweating cold.
　I say I don't want to go, but I'm being made to go.
　My whole body is trembling with fear, but my mouth moves on its own.

''Because we're--''

　I hate .......
　I don't want to go .......

"We (...) 'Jewish Stone People' were born from--

　And yet, I will make my role known to me.

'The one who built this Great Sacred City of Fuzzy Yards--'

　It also marks the end of this great holy city.

"All the thousand years of this continent have been spent on this occasion...

　On the contrary, it even 'predicts' the fate of this world.

　Yes, this is a 'prediction'.
　I click my back teeth and savor its true meaning as I leap forward on the roof.

　Every time I landed, the light from the 'magic stone line' of the houses and roads lavished on the Great Sacred City increased and my body's freedom was taken away.
　The power of the blood itself, which is stuck to my skin, is not as strong as it could be. However, it is the key to activation (the access key), pumping the magic formula and magic power from the earth. To put it simply, the magic that used one country is now attacking me.

　Exposed to it, I am frightened and ask for forgiveness.

''Wow, I'm already ....... I can't fight anymore ......!　Please, let me get away with it: ......!　That one will absolutely freeze this Great Holy City - no, it will freeze this continent. ......!　Please let me get away before that: ....... Please. I don't want to die: ....... I don't want to die yet--

　But I can't allow it.
　Sleeplessly, a stronger magic flowed through my entire body, and I could only nod while biting my lip.

''Ha, yes ....... I understand. If you just want to look at it from a distance, you can ....... Se, Sei, 'Saint' Tiara-sama (・・・・・) ......--

　His voice trembled, and he let go of the title he had been seeking for so long, now completely.
　Because in the face of the real thing, I realized how awe-inspiring it was that a diminutive being like myself had deceived the 'saints'

　-- The blood spinning says lightly, "I'm not angry, I'm not angry," but my body continues to tremble.

　I'm afraid of the 'ice girl' who froze me.
　But I'm also afraid of the "real saint" who is here.

　Both are equal disasters.
　Caught between those two, my too small ego was on the verge of being blown away.

　This is how the bat 'I', who is on no one's side, was manipulated and blown away.
　As instructed, he was made to chant magic that was only allowed to the 'Jewelcrus' in the final stages.

Star Magic [Gravity].

　It is the magic of the "stars".

　Controlling the power of the stars that bound his body, he flew high in the sky.
　It jumped into the sky where the snow had begun to fall and spread its thin wings and glided up to the Clock Tower, the highest point in this great holy city.

　--with one purpose in mind.

　The title of 'Saint', which had been given away recently. I'm going to take over that name and see the "answer" to this generation's sacrifice.