The magical 'past vision' is moving away, and gradually the original sense of self returns.
　And the first thing you feel is the usual cold air.

　--Cold.

　I knew that this one word was the signal to wake up, as I had repeatedly done.

　The sensation that my flesh is frozen off.
　Instead of flesh, it's choked with ice cubes, and instead of blood, it's cold water circulating.
　I don't think it could be any colder, but something colder than ice hits my cheek and quickly makes me reconsider.

　It's so cold - but so soft, and now I'm touched by something so soft.

　I react and slowly open my eyelids.
　A blinding light spreads across my eyeballs. Colored vision.
　My sister's face was in front of me, peering at me with concern.

'Yotaki ......?　Oh, .......

　He reached out further and touched my cheek with the fingertips of his right hand.
　I take a breath, realizing that this was the cessation of my awakening.

Good morning, brother. I had a nightmare, and I had to wake you up in a hurry. I just got back from the outside, so your fingers ...... must be cold, right?
'Yeah, I was surprised. ...... Too cold, really.

　Chuckling, Yotaki lets go of my hand and I pick myself up.

　Then I check my surroundings.
　The first thing I see is that I was lying in bed. There is only minimal furniture such as a sofa around. It's not an unfamiliar room. It was an unfamiliar room, that's for sure, but I know where I am. It's the house I once bought for rent, the house where Maria and Snow now live. Probably, this is the room that Snow used to occupy.

　The last memory I have of this house is up to the point where I used my Past Vision magic in the kitchen.
　I'm not going to be the only one who has been in a position to do this.
　I lightly check with the 'display'.


[Status]
　Name: Aikawa Uzumi HP--/-- MP3567/3567 Class.


　MP is recovering.
　It's been at least a night since that happened.
　I return the greeting with a hand on my heavy, cold head.

'Good morning, Yotaki.'
'...... haha. I'm glad you've recovered enough to speak clearly. However, you still don't seem to be in your element. I've been sleeping for days with 'past vision' to the limit, so it's not surprising that I'm ......

　He looks at me very worriedly and tells me the situation in a slightly explanatory tone.
　Apparently, that's what's going to happen this time.

''--So, brother, how was Arti's memory?''

　Then, Yotaki asks me how I feel about "past vision," as I seem to have finally been able to speak - and he asks me how I feel about it.
　In response to that slightly off-base question, I repeat the same words.

"Arti's, memory ......

　I did not see such things.
　What I saw in my 'past vision' was Tiara's memories.

　Indeed, Yotaki and I were talking about chasing Arti's memories a while ago.
　So it's not unreasonable to be so mistaken.
　However, apart from that reasonable view, I feel a severe sense of discomfort that that perfect Yotaki is (・・・・・・・・) mistaken (・・・・・・・).

　Furthermore, I notice another discomfort.
　The memory continues beautifully (...) (・・・・・・・・・).

　I'm back in this 'winter world' and even though I slept and woke up, my memory is clear.
　If it were true, more I would be missing a lot of things, adding memories that don't exist and making it more convenient for Yotaki.

　--I quickly relegate that uncomfortable feeling to the corner of my mind.

　I was strangely calm.
　Semi-automatically, everything that had been fought until now had been mobilized.

　This is the same case as when I fought a Reaper after the semifinals of the Lauravia "Dance Tournament" in the past.
　No matter how much or how little of a connection there is in my body right now, I have to control myself so that it never gets transmitted to my opponent.

　Of course, my heartbeat and body temperature remain normal.
　Your eyes and breathing are the same as usual.
　I keep everything flat, including my gestures and habits.
　With an unchanging smile on my face, I slowly answer.

'Yeah ....... I saw it. Arti's memory was truly awesome ....... I think that was exactly what it was, 'purgatory'. A life of blood and flesh being turned into wood and just burning up. Especially when he was betrayed by that Romis guy and suffered alone in a dark basement, it was really desperate and ...... very sad.
'...... Arti was born with a bit of a clogged up side, you see. With the skill 'Penetrating Eyes', she would have been involved in some kind of disaster no matter where she was. And the worst part was that she had met the apostles on her deathbed. Arti was too young that day to be able to bounce off that devilish deal.

　.............
　I don't see the moment when Arti becomes 'the one who steals the reason for the fire'.

　But I'll fit the story in.
　I've only read the novel Tiara, but I know what's in the story of Arti.

'Yes, you're right. At that time Arti was in great pain and dazed. With that fatal wound, it's usually impossible to make a proper decision ....... If only Diprakra and the others had understood such a natural thing ......
'The apostles were really immature in those days. I guess they didn't know that people's wills and beliefs could be easily swayed by circumstances. ...... It can't be helped.
'I can't help it, or ....... Maybe so, but I can't help but think. If only the world had been just a little bit kinder to Alty then ....... She's had too much bad luck. Including the fact that Tida was so close to her at that time.
'Sure, if it weren't for that man, there wouldn't have been Romis Neisha's outburst. ...... But, brother. Arti's life isn't just about bad luck. --because my brother came to me.
'Oh ....... I came and she got out of the basement .......
''Hmph. Arti's excitement at that moment is immeasurable. How much she was saved by her brother who appeared like the 'hero' of the story in the midst of her despair. ...... When she told me that story, I was so excited I didn't know what she was talking about.
I defeated Romis, Fania was freed from the 'curse' and Arti was saved: ......
Yes, it was all thanks to my brother.

　A thousand years ago, I saved Alti.

　The story in that Fania would have been a perfect heroic tale from Arti's point of view, a royal road with no hooks and no doubt even 'between the lines'.
　Arti saw me as a 'hero' and I am sure that's where my legend as 'savior' and 'founder' begins.

　-- but I know that it's not really true.

　From Tiara's point of view, my figure was truly distorted.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not a good person, but I'm a really unpleasant 'monster' with a horribly unstable mind.

　From that point on, I became a mere copy of someone else's 'ideal' and started on a new path as 'the one who steals the reason for the dimension'.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it. She found her true self that she had 'forgotten' and fulfilled the 'unconsciousness' that had bound her.
'After a thousand years he was called as a guardian (Guardian) and met me and Maria ....... Arti found .......
"In a thousand years after the 'curse' of the 'stealers of reason' was lifted, the memories that should have been 'forgotten' would have returned little by little, and would have been greatly confused. However, she got over it. Indeed, the 'one who steals the reason for the fire' was found at the end of her life. -- 'Maria (...)' (...) 'Truth (...)'

　Right now, Yangtaki said something very important.
　I can read the meaning from every word and guess the 'truth'.

　However, right now I can't make a single word wrong.
　I had no choice but to keep my mouth small and keep it to just my impressions.

'Oh, I'm really glad ....... Both Arti and Maria .......
'Indeed, so is Maria. In a sense, she now has a true understanding of who she is, who will never be separated from her forever, so to speak. I'm a bit jealous. Both of them overcame their innate differences - 'skills' - and have achieved happiness. ...... haha.

　Finally, Yotaki let out one big sigh and put an end to the conversation.
　Taking advantage of the gap, I quickly moved on to the topic.

''So, is that Maria ......?　Snow is also at ......

　I lightly let my eyes wander and question the whereabouts of my other friends.
　Hearing that, Yotaki stiffens up a bit, and then answers with his usual smile, just like me.

''--I'm not here anymore.''

　It was then that I felt the cold air in the room intensify a bit.
　Then Yotaki approached the table in the room, picked up the letter that was on it and handed it to me on the bed.

　I don't need to read it, but I know what it says.
　However, I wander my eyes towards the letter and summarize the main points exactly.

The actuality of this is that I'm not going to be able to get to know you as well as I am. Although the schedule has been moved up a bit, the job of representing the Walker family is very rewarding. I am no longer worried. Kanami held my hand and I was able to say the things I couldn't say that day. ...... Snow, like me, seems to be doing very well. She is a spoiled brat in front of Kanami-san, but in front of everyone, she is a charismatic and great hero, Mr. Snow. She's always been buzzing next to me, telling me that the next time she comes back, she'll be a great woman who can stand next to Kanami-san. Kanami-san is a worrier, so you may be worried about a lot of things, but don't worry ....... It seems that Dia-san is also on the mainland, so we want to help each other in many ways--'

　The reason for leaving was written in the letter.
　After I confirmed it, Yotaki took out a key from his pocket. I'm not going to be able to get the same exact thing I used to use in this house.

''When I left, I was lent the key to the house. He said that if people didn't use it, it would get dusty and hard to clean. ...... Maybe you've slept through this too, don't you remember?
'Oh ......, it was. I feel like they said that to me.

　I nodded clearly while making a sad face.
　As for 'The Leaving Friends', Yotaki and I have had the same interests since Dia disappeared.
　I didn't want to force myself to go against the flow of the conversation and have him realize that I wasn't the usual me.

''Brother, I know you miss the two of us, but ....... Please don't look at me like that. Look. See?

　When Yotaki sees my expression, he approaches a nearby window.
　Then she vigorously opens the window and tells me with a smile.

''-- It's the Nativity.''

　The time of this 'winter world'.

Nativity ......?
'Yes. It's rumored to be the best festival ever, too. I think they say it's the best ever every year at .......

　Hearing those words, I turn my eyes out the window.

　In the silver world of falling snow, I find a child wearing a mask calling out in the distance.
　This house is built on the outskirts of the city, so further information can only be obtained by using 《Dimension》. However, I don't need to use magic to get it through to my skin. The sound of a bell coming from the depths of the silver world. The vibrations of the people's hustle and bustle that surpasses it. The strange smell of a festival. A gusher of energy and enthusiasm.

　There's no doubt about it.
　I'm celebrating my second United Nativity.

It's that time of year already: ......
A lot of things happened while my brother was sleeping.

　Along with me, Yotaki looked out the window and continued to smile emotionally.
　Seeing her expression, I felt like it was Yotaki who had been waiting for this moment to happen, like no other.

　I stare at my sister's face, trying to find out what's going on in her heart as much as possible. Then, Yotaki's expression changed to a wry smile and he declared.

''Well, your brother seems to be fine now, so ....... It's about time for me to go.''

　I threw on my jacket, which was hanging on a chair in my room, and started getting ready to go out.
　And I had a genuine question on my mind.

You're going to ...... where?
It's a secret.

　He didn't tell me.
　Despite my desire to get to know my sister, she took a step away from me.

'I had to do something that I really needed to do ....... There's been so much going on while your brother was asleep. ......

　I knew it was an errand that could not be missed.

　I guessed that errand.
　When Dia had left the Confederation before, Yotaki had fought with Dia in the real glacier city.
　Maybe the same thing needs to be repeated with Maria and Snow, who just left.

''Or does your brother miss having me to take care of him?　My brother is quite like that, you know.

　Or maybe there is some special reason for this time of the Nativity.
　When there is something that I absolutely have to do alone, Yotaki - it's possible that that tiara started to contact me at that moment.

　When I think that far into my thoughts and picture Tiara's face in my head, her words reverberate in my head.

　-- 'Before she was born and after she died (・・・・・), that's where she's waiting.'

　The words pull me down to one of my sister's priorities -- lowering my priority.

'No way. ...... You've got a lot of relationships and stuff going on with you, right?　You can go there in peace.
'...... Mm. It's kind of frustrating to hear you say that so clearly.
'My cis-con allegations have been all over the place lately. I need to redeem myself in these places, little by little.

　In his usual tone of voice, he would only end up talking about other trivial things.
　Yotaki then approached the door of the room and grabbed the doorknob, keeping a bitter smile on his face.

''If you want to go to ......, feel free. I'll be off, brother.
Have a good day, Yotaki.

　I sit on my bed and look off at Yotaki.
　Then I hear my sister's footsteps, not by magic but by ear, as she walks down the hallway outside her room, out of the house, and blends in from the hills to the city.

　After waiting long enough on the bed for more, I begin to prepare to leave too.

'............. I'll go too: ......

　However, just putting on a jacket like Yotaki is not the end of my preparations to go out.

　First I needed to fully understand how this 'winter world' works.

　I was confident that I could do it.
　I have a decent sense of time, unlike my usual waking up. Thanks to that, I know exactly where and when I'm doing what I'm doing.

　I had a vague idea that it was because of Tiara's "blood".
　Her blood mixed with my past vision must have contributed to this situation.

　The memory of the tiara I saw.
　With that experience, I stare at it.
　I squinted my eyes tightly, not that I had poor vision, but I squinted and focused physically and magically.

　Then it was so easy to see.

'...... ha ha,'

　I'm trying to focus my eyes, but on the contrary, my eyes are blurring in front of me.

　When I tried to focus correctly, countless lines began to be carved into my vision.
　They were white 'threads' that stretched out irregularly in all directions.
　Like a spider's web, it is stretched across the room, moving as if it were drifting through the air, wavering.

　Even if you reach out your hand, you can't touch it.
　I knew at once that I wasn't trapped by the normal laws of physics. It ignores obstacles such as the ground and floor and breaks through them. From its fluttering and strange movements, I could tell that it was also escaping gravity.

　The fact that the "thread" is filling my field of vision and I can't get rid of it with my hands is quite uncomfortable, as if there is a crack in the eyeball itself - or rather, a crack in the recognizing brain itself.

　But this state of affairs is to be expected.
　I calmly analyze the 'thread' based on the information I got from Tiara's memories.

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

　The reason for not touching the 'thread' is obvious.
　A thousand years ago, when I created the "Technique of Level Up", the answer was clear.
　At that time, I incorporated the images of - 'flesh', 'cell', 'copy', 'immaterial', 'penetration', 'assistance' and 'muscle' - in my work. Just like that one, this may be a 'cell with no mass as matter'.

　When I looked closely at the 'thread', I could see a variety of glittering lights running through its interior.
　If this were a replication of a nerve cell, I thought it might be an electric signal, but I soon realized that it was not. Inside the 'thread', there was an ample amount of magic power with multiple attributes circulating inside.

　It is close to the blood that runs through blood vessels.
　Perhaps, but this 'thread' served not only as a nerve, but also as a blood vessel. Of course, it's also a pathway for transmitting magic power. From this, I realized that this 'thread' has gone beyond the nerve cells in my original world's common sense, and has reached a level that cannot be fully analyzed by science.

'Ah, here it is: ......'

　This is the 'magic thread'.

　I can finally see it - or rather, it would be more accurate to say that I was made able to see it by Tiara's 'blood'.

　I can feel the "magic thread" in the room stirring with my whole body.
　It moves like a tentacle, tangling, entering my body, overlapping with my nerves and blood vessels. Sometimes it keeps stroking my cheek gently. I don't feel any harm in that.

　I didn't feel any harm from the "magic thread" either.

　I'm sure that if you cut the magical thread, the winter world will end for sure. I'm not wanting to make a mess until I get to the "girlfriend" who is waiting for me.

　I ignored the 'magic thread' and focused on other information.
　I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do anything about it.

　It was the 'reality' beyond the illusion of the 'winter world'.
　The warm scene I had seen earlier had changed drastically, revealing a room full of icicles and snow. There is a bed and furniture, but it has been completely frozen over.

　My body, which had been sleeping there, was also completely frozen.

　No wonder I was so cold.
　It wasn't cold water circulating through my body, but actual cold blood circulating through my body.
　It wasn't ice cubes clogging up his body, but actual flesh that was on the verge of freezing.
　To put it bluntly, I would be biologically unable to move.

　--But my body can move.

　But my body can move.
　I can move my frozen body while making a creaking sound.
　My hair, which had grown to my back before I knew it, makes a strange crunching sound.

　Thanks to the leveling up, it doesn't seem to have done much damage in the cold to the point where I can't move biologically.
　I no longer have the humanity to become an ice statue, no matter how many degrees below freezing it is. I know from my "past vision" that all I have left now is Aikawa Uzumi-ness (・・・・・・・).

Haha.

　Moving with a second bitter smile, I approach the window.
　Then I stare out of the house, keeping my eyes fixed on it.

　Even though it's in the middle of a blizzard, there's a pillar of fire rising in the distance.
　In addition, the glowing magic power is also scattering in the sky like a splash of water.

　Perhaps, Maria is fighting. There is a good chance that she is using resonance magic with Dia. Surely Snow would be there, too, as a vanguard.

　I remember the three faces, and at the same time, I remember the words of each of them before they parted.

'I can finally go home ....... In the true sense of the word, I can pick up the 'I' that I left behind in my hometown. I can face my parents and brother this time ......'
'Of course it's good. In fact, this is my primary goal. I'll be physically and mentally fit and become Kanami's partner. That dream has never changed.
'Kanami is a worrier, so you may be worried about a lot of things, but don't worry about ....... It seems that Dia-san is also on the mainland, so we'd like to help each other in many ways.'

　-- powerful, positive, and independent in their own right.

　And we know, without a doubt, that all of them mean what they say.

　It's easy to prove that they mean it.
　Accustomed to my frozen body, I walk through the window and step outside.
　Then I walk through the ice age-like world and find one ice statue buried in the snow.

　Inside the ice statue is a meditated child.
　In addition, 'magical threads' wrapped and swirled around the ice statue like a cocoon. One of them touches my skin and overlaps with the nerves in my body.

　Then I stop staring and let the world loosen its focus.

　Then, on a hill where it's snowing in a flurry of snow - before I know it, a boy wearing a fox-like beast mask and I are talking.

''--Heh, brother!　Isn't this nice!

　A boy from the Valt nation is proudly pointing and laughing at his mask.
　To that I answer with a smile.

...... Yeah. It's an unusual and conspicuous mask. Where did you get that?
You know what?　This mask is different!　My mom bought it for me in Gliard, down south!　They said the masks were made in a country across the sea!
Wow. The other side of the ocean. That's great.
'If you want some unusual masks, brother, you can go to a stall in the southern harbor!　See you later!

　So the boy said, and then, looking unbusy, he rushed off in a flurry toward the northern Hoosier country.

　As I watched him off, I stared at him again and refocused the world.
　From the "Winter World" back to "Reality".

　I'm not going to be able to get out of the house. Like a seed in the wind, the "magic thread" is flying through the sky towards the far north.

　In the depths of the blizzardy sky, I saw an upside-down, multicolored curtain woven from the magical thread.
　The aurora borealis, which emits light not from magnetic force but from magic, was moving from the earth to the sky.

　This is the reality of the "World of Winter".
　This is the reality of the 'winter world': living things are turned into ice sculptures, preserved, and then connected with 'magic threads' called nerves.
　The thread also acts as a brain nerve, so everyone shares the same world hallucinations.
　In my world, it's a network - a magical version of that network. That aurora woven in the sky is a virtual server, so to speak. It's the kind of 'dystopia' you see in movies or comics.

　In other words, Yotaki doesn't want to cause any unnecessary deaths.
　The people who live in the hallucination certainly have souls.
　So it's not a lie here, but it's not a lie.

　When I am sure of this, I look at the pillar of fire rising in the distance.
　At the same time, I also ruminate on the powerful words of the example.

　I'm not the only one who has become stronger through the battles we've fought until today.
　The spirits of my companions have also become stronger in "reality.
　They're so strong that they don't need me anymore .......

　In light of Yotaki's policy, I'm going to lower my priority again.

　-- 'At the end of that staircase, my daughter ■■■■■■ Foozeyers is waiting for the "hero"'.

　The words that are stuck in the back of my head make my priorities clearer.

'Let's go ......'

　I don't think my friends would have any objection to me helping "her". I'm not going to be able to get a good idea of what to expect.

　However, because of the "magic thread" and the blizzard, I stopped staring at it.
　I'm not going to be able to get out of my own home.

　From Wald's house, I walk straight north to the Hoozeyards.

　By the time I enter the Hoosiers, the streets are filled with people enjoying the festival.
　And I was greeted by a number of very old-fashioned stalls. As I walked past the familiar food vendors, I remembered a few memories of the festival before.

　I remember enjoying the festival with my "girlfriend".
　Back then, I kept a lid on my feelings, but I really wanted to spend more time with "her". I wanted to talk to her more and more.

　But I couldn't do that.
　I guess it's because we were both 'made up' by the writers.
　I wasn't able to talk about things that had nothing to do with the story - I wasn't able to.

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

　Walking alone in a snowy festival.
　Slowly, on a noisy road with the chanting of bells and the sound of your own footsteps in a blizzard - the sound of your own footsteps is the only sound you can hear.

　Remembering the past, my steps remind me of one 'chant'.

...... 'The winter world takes away all that is lost.'

　I thought it was an appropriate 'chant' for the current situation.
　And then you realize.

''Ah, this ....... 'Winter's Other World (Wintry Dimension)' or ......'

　I found out the exact magic name of the "Winter World" and at the same time learned the power of Yangtaki.

　I'm going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to get the best out of it. You're going to be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for.

　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what to expect.
　It's a good thing that you're able to have a good idea of what you're looking for.

　I'm sure that this is why I thought that one day Yotaki was going to entrust me with the control of this winter world.
　It's the magic of the story's raspy magic that sucks the power from all frozen life (life), that's what my brother likes, right? I felt like I was being told.

...... ah.

　I'm sure it's my favorite.
　However, it is doubtful whether this preference is really mine. In the first place, it's doubtful that the Winter's Other World (Wintry Dimension) itself is really something I came up with. I'm not sure if it's a good idea, but it's not.

''Is that why it was such a strong magic: ......

　I mutter to myself over and over again, just like when I first got lost in the labyrinth.
　While I'm reminiscing about the past, I finally arrive in front of the Great Hall of the Allied Fooziers.

　The river flowing around the building was frozen.
　A number of security knights are lined up on the bridge over the river, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter. I was trying to get over the river and the fence with the 《Difault》 - I reconsidered whether it would be okay to go in head-on.

　I proudly approach the bridge and call out to the knights guarding the sanctuary.
　In an attempt to get them to guide me to 'her' who is waiting for me at the far end of this hoozeyards, I introduced myself as 'Original Kanami'.