Dia and Sis.
　Before talking about their homecoming, there is one preamble to the story.

''--Didn't I tell you before why I came out to the Confederacy?　I was abandoned by my parents because I was an 'apostle'. They didn't even give me a name, they just kept worshipping me as 'Sith-sama' and ...... I fled to the Confederacy in despair that there was no 'me' anywhere.

　Dia uses the first person of 'I' when she's weak - and I know that, and I almost stop her from talking about it. But soon she shakes her head not to worry and continues quietly.

'The main thing that made me want to leave was ......, and to be honest, it was a dream that Kanami's sister showed me. Not that I'm going to forgive that, but that dream made me realize that I had everything I needed for 'Diablo Sith'. Also, I think it may be that I became completely separate bodies from the Sith (that guy), and the more we talked as equals, the more ridiculous a lot of my problems became.

　Very honestly, Dia went on to say that she felt very honestly. Even though she hated the word 'apostle', it sounded like she felt a strange friendship with the Sith personally.

'Anyway, I decided to go home for once. Because I thought I should settle things with my family, just like Kanami did.

　Perhaps the flow (...) is not so different from the one I saw in Yotaki's "Winter's Other World (Wintry Dimension)".

　Just one thing.
　If there is a difference from that dream, it's that instead of parting with the original culprit, the "Apostle" Sith, we returned (...) together.

'Of course, even if 'I' went home, my parents wouldn't see me as their daughter anyway. I knew that. -- so we went home together, alongside the 'Apostle' Sith, and we went home together. This way, no matter how hard I try, my parents won't be able to call me 'Sith-sama'!　You have to talk to your own daughter, 'me'!　Haha, I did!

　Dia laughs like a boy who has successfully pulled off a prank.
　However, considering your parents' sentiments, I don't laugh lightly.

'Did your parents believe that?　That little unfortunate Sith is really an apostle.
'That's where the priests who accompanied me carefully explained it to me. ...... But the only two people who were decisive were Fran and old man Aleiss. No, it's really not fair to have a say based on family background. I've always doubted the priests' stories, but when the four great nobles came out, it was a shot in the dark.

　Just like the dream, he left with his friend Franlle and Fenrir Aleis, who has become his guardian. If Fenrir-san, who was the head of the Aleis family and renowned as the 'Sword Sage', was there, the conversation would have been really fast.

After that, my father and mother said that I did your best and that you did your job well. But those weren't the words I wanted to hear, honestly. ...... My parents didn't understand until the end that I wasn't alive because I wanted those things. So--

　All the time, Dia has been smiling and proceeding with the conversation in a matter-of-fact manner.
　However, this is the only place where she is in the shadows.

'I'll be honest with Kanami. I thought that, in some cases, I might kill my parents on impulse. That's how much I hated my family. I hated everything about my hometown. ...... but I couldn't do it. There was no way I could do that.

　Originally, Dia was an explorer to become a rich and powerful person and to give back to a lot of people.
　She's pure and straightforward in front of me, but she's not a girl who's immune to malice and murderous intent.

'I've been through a lot since I came home. A lot of things really happened - so I kind of smacked the sith guy in the head at the end. So I just ended it all as a charade.
"Yeah, yeah, ......?

　The sudden sanction against the Sith causes me to let out a sound of confusion.

　However, it's easy to imagine the scene.
　A lot of things have happened and the Sith who were beaten at the end of the day say, "What, why?　Why, me! He protested with tears in his eyes.

''Of course. It was the apostle's reincarnation without permission in the first place. In the end, the Sith bowed to their parents. Or rather, I made them lower it.
Uh-huh. Well, yeah. Yeah, I think that's the best solution, too.

　If the current Sis and Diah fight, the advantage is overwhelmingly in Diah's favor. So it was easy to imagine Sis reluctantly apologizing with tears in her eyes, saying "I'm sorry ......".
　At the same time, I chuckle at Dia's kindness and sweetness in allowing her to just slap him.

'From there, Fran and old man Aleis, who was accompanying me, came out, and the conversation went straight to the point. They seemed to have come to tell me that I was going to be adopted by the Alais family and transferred from the Hoosiers' register book. I didn't know how hard it was going to be, but it looks like I'm now a child of the Alais family.

　The whole time Dia was talking to her parents, both Franlure and Mr. Fenrir were probably watching in the background.
　If Dia had gotten the idea and was about to touch her parents, they would have stopped her, even at the risk of their lives.

'So I guess that means I'm almost as insulated from my family as Kanami was!　Haha!　But I do think I'll show up every once in a while!　Because maybe one day you'll be able to talk to me like a normal person!

　And Dia laughed off the whole story, saying it was a good experience.

　I can clearly see why she's letting me hear it now.
　She gently encourages me that one day I will be able to talk to my parents as normal.
　Her warmth of concern makes me smile too.

'Thank you, Dear ....... It makes me feel a little better. I feel like one day I'll be able to smile and meet my parents ......

　Gratitude also spilled out of my mouth.
　It was completely different from yesterday. Unlike Kounel, who only spoke for her own benefit, Dia's words couldn't help but resonate with her heart.

'No, thank you is a line over here, Kanami!　When I first came to the Confederacy at level 1, if it wasn't for Kanami, I'd normally be dead!　Maybe in the maze, easily!　But meeting Kanami got me here!　Thanks to Kanami, 'I' was able to go home!　I'm finally home!

　The Dia of Dreams has parted ways with Inherent Difference (Diablo Sis).
　However, in Reality, Dia has taken the Innate Difference (Diablo Sis) as her friend.
　Seeing Dia's smile that shows the difference gives me hope too.

　For me.
　For everyone.
　I can believe from the bottom of my heart that a better future awaits us.
　No, I'm sure. I will bring a better future to you.

　Feeling an outpouring of courage, I look at her status in the 'display'.
　There's a--


[Status]
　Name: Dear (...) Aleiss (・・・・) HP741/741 MP3412/3412 Class: explorer


　--There was a new Dear name.

　Unfortunately, the skill 'Overcapture Protection' hasn't disappeared yet. However, I wouldn't be the only target of it anymore. Unintentionally, once Lagune killed me and forced me to fight a harsh battle with Yotaki -- that '? But just as the "Pledge of the Deepest (Di Cavernator)" - I knew because I was a status maker that the skill "Overcapture Protection" was about to be elevated to the next realm.

　While I was away, Dia and her friends worked together to make more and more friends.
　The target of the current skill 'Overcaptive Protection' is everyone (...), including the Sith.
　Perhaps, but I think that Rustyala had been aiming for this solution from the beginning. I was truly happy to witness the moment of achieving that goal.

''Kanami, my 'adventure' is over. I met Kanami, I made a lot of friends, I had a serious run-in with the Apostle guy, and it's completely settled. I'm really glad I made it to this confederacy.

　Sullenly, Dia spins the words.
　That would be the ending of Dia's story, if I had to say it.
　I give her a smile worthy of that one scene.

'So do I. After meeting Dia and the others, I had a serious fight with my sister Yotaki, and it was completely settled. A lot of things happened, but I'm really glad I came to another world too.

　There are many things I have lost. But there are no regrets or 'regrets' there, and I'm trying to tell her that I'm only living my life looking forward now.

'Oh ....... Ha, ha. Good!　I'm so glad!
...... good?

　Three times, Dear repeated the same words. After the second time, I have a feeling it wasn't relief for Dia herself, so I put a question mark on it.

'I've been worried about you for a long time. There was a time a while ago when Kanami couldn't see a lot of things, right?　Compared to that time of year, he looks really good today. It's the same old Kanami!

　Then, right after that last battle - two months ago - Dia talks about me.

'Well, was it that bad?　As far as I'm concerned, I've always thought of myself as normal.
It was that much!　I was always looking at faraway places, kind of wandering around and feeling like I didn't know what time it was ....... Pushing myself, watching Kanami pretend to be fine, made my chest tighten up in pain. ......!

　Apparently, the fact that I was so excited about not letting my friends worry about me made them worry about me in reverse.
　Hearing that assessment embarrasses me. When I think about it, I feel as if I was being uncharacteristically high-strung.

　I'm sorry, and to prove to myself that it's going to be okay from now on, I'm going to say a certain name.

'Dear ......, I've already figured it out. If you dwell on it forever, 'Rustyala' will only get angry at you. Looking down won't solve anything, so we have to look forward now. We have no choice but to continue our story and move on.
'Yeah, you're right. You're right. Haha ......, really, Kanami loves 'Rustyala' ......

　Deer, relieved, laughs.
　Then she repeats the name that came out of my mouth, seeming to love it even more than I do.

　The name is really special to us, and it can be filled with a complex mix of emotions.
　Dea looks both laughing and sad as she talks about Rustyala.

'I liked Rustyala a lot, too. I really loved Rastiara, who was always laughing next to me when I was always running out of control. ...... So I have one favor to ask of Kanami.

　I know that Dia's feelings.
　In the 'original world' a thousand years ago, I'm experiencing the same feelings.

' -- I want you to continue to let me be by Kanami's side. I loved Rastiara, and I love Kanami just as much. I don't want to be separated from that 'two', I think with all my heart now.

　It's an emotion that is intertwined with separation and heartbreak.
　Moreover, Dia seems to feel guilty about standing next to me in a world without Rustyala.
　Seeing this, I can't help but say it.
　That new 'contract' with Dia, too--

I don't have to check with me. You don't have to be away from anyone anymore. No, from now on, I'll always be 'I'll be (sic) by your side, even if it's the end of the world' -
"-What?　Ka, Kanami ......?　You're with me ......, eh ......?

　He didn't expect such an exaggerated word to come back to him.
　Dia blushes and starts to get confused.

　From somewhere, she says, "Seducer!　I'm going to die once again! I thought I heard an auditory hallucination.
　However, I'm not hitting on Rustyala as 'the one and only destined', so I'm not hitting on him. Personally, I'd like to think that I'm just barely safe as a human being--I'd like to think that I am.
　I want to think, but as if to deny that my excuse, Dia is unable to process her emotions and tries to run out of the city road alone.

''Eh, ah, ah--!
Di-fault!

　I didn't want to stand out now.
　With the magic I had decided to use as little as possible, I distorted the distance between me and Dia, who was moving away from me.

''Wha?''

　He grabbed Dia's wrist as he pulled her in and caught her.
　She gradually regains her composure as she realizes that she can't get away with grabbing my arm.
　Then, blushing, she takes several deep breaths and blames me for what I said and did.

'Hah, hah ......!　Wow, I'm sorry, Kanami. I was a bit distraught ...... but now it's Kanami's fault!　That was definitely Kanami's fault, I think!
'Yeah, I'm sorry!　It's just dressed up!　I dressed up so well just to be in front of Dear!　I'm sorry!
'Oh, I knew it!　That's the kind of thing that makes Kanami no good, and Rustyala and Maria were right!　Oh, God!　Kanami, already!

　There was no excuse for it, so I apologized incessantly.
　Dia took a deep breath, followed by a big sigh, "Haha ......", and I'm sure she stared at me with tears in her eyes over her blush.

　As I've found out recently, my peer evaluation has changed dramatically in Dia's mind.
　At the beginning of our adventure, she trusted me absolutely and looked at Maria as an enemy, but now it's the opposite.
　At last, she has come to recognize me as a "stinker of a dress-up".

　Thus, we hold hands, breathe, and gradually calm down.
　I was able to calm down. But the price of the noise is that people around us begin to look at us curiously.

''I've made you stand out a bit, haven't I? It wouldn't be good if they found out.

　In the past two months, the face of the former 'founder' and former 'apostle' has become known to many people.　
　I feared that I wouldn't be able to get around the city calmly, but Dia was different.

I'm sure it's all right. I'm a master at dressing up in men's clothing now, and everyone around me thinks I'm a featureless guy.
And your signature male attire?　No, it's not--

　Absolutely not.
　The answer to "never" is proven by a kid on the street instead of me.

"-- oh, it's the apostle.

　It was one of the curious looks around.
　A boy, smaller in stature than Dia, looked at Dia with still, pure, innocent eyes and muttered to himself.

'No, I'm not an apostle ......?　He's a swordsman everywhere.
'What?　But the sister who cured me of my illness before, at the Cathedral: ......
'No, no, no, no!　For all intents and purposes, I'm not your sister, I'm your brother!

　Denying it with all his might, Dia pulled out the Straight Sword of Crescent Pectrazi from his waist, even though he was in town. He also struck a decisive pose, like some sentai or hero thing. The little one was delighted by this brilliant pose, but the rest of the people were not fooled. Instead, they accelerate.

'...... that. I knew it was the pretty one, Apostle-sama.
The pretty one in the cathedral?
That's the pretty one, Lady Dear. So maybe the one next to her is .......

　Even though she was dressed as a man, she was still a deere who was being loved all over the city.
　The eyes of the adults who had been watching from afar had clearly mentioned her name. Annoyed by their reactions, Diah corrected them by stepping on the ground.

'No, boys!　Not the pretty one, but the cool one!

　I don't want to hide my name anymore - or rather, it was Dia who reflexively denies another part of me.

　The buzz around him increased because he had implicitly admitted that he was Dia.
　The propagation of information had stopped once one of us had mentioned her name. A crowd of people began to form around the two of us--


Is that the founder?


　A girl had come close to me, not looking at Dia.
　Now I'm wearing a tight Tida mask on my explorer's guise. I'm sure you'll be able to see that I'm the founder of the company, which means that I'm a very high quality kid.
　The girl is praying to me in a somewhat crazy way.

''Ancestor-sama ......!　Oh, please let me pray for you: ......!　Thanks to you, we were able to survive. The omens that were spread to the Allies during the Reconstruction saved us slaves and changed their (...) 'destiny (...)'. It is only through the miracle and grace of the Founder that we are now living. The new orphanages and residential areas...

　Tasteless (...).
　From his expression and words, I knew immediately that he was a former slave.
　Now that I know, I shake my head.

'I'm sorry. I'm done praying to me. There's a new ancestor who is a proper founder, so you'll pray to him.
'The new founder?　...... Oh, you mean that stubborn woman!　Apostle Sis, who snatches up the achievements of Mr. 'Ayka Wakanami Christ Eurasian Waldhusiers von Walker' from the side!
'No, he's a better person than I am. I've been thinking about saving the world, unlike me, who only care about myself. I even think that she is the only true 'friend of justice' in this world.
Is that so?　No, but the guy is ....... It's not just his personality, but what a great pity that Gotumu is, in the first place, ......
So she's going to help us all, not with her head, but with her heart. Lots of kids like you in the future.
............. I'm still not convinced. I will continue to honor you and pray for you. Until the day I die.

　It didn't work.
　Probably the child of the Levantine 'revisionist' sect that is fanatical about me.

　And as I took the time to deal with her, before I knew it, the crowd of people around us had become a complete wall.
　Everyone was muttering our names with 'founder' and 'apostle' at the beginning of our names, and it looked like a sudden service (mass) was about to begin in the square at any moment.
　I knew that Revanism was back in vogue in the wake of the reconstruction, but I didn't expect it to go this far.

　We have no choice but to cut off the gaze of everyone in this place with our signature dimensional magic and fast movement and escape. Deciding that, he tried to carry Dia--

Don't pray like that!　Not good!　　

　Before he could do so, Dia's loud voice came through.
　It was heard loud and clear, even in the buzzing marketplace.
　Her serious voice that followed was dignified - like the gospel echoing through the cathedral, spreading everywhere.

'Prayer is just a 'curse,' even if it's one-sided. At least I've always felt that one-sided prayer is a burden. It's ......, so you have to understand. This isn't one of those days for us. If you're going to pray, do it in the right place at the right time. Rules are important. If you pray in the temple, we will respond. We'll respond. ......, please.

　I was surprised.
　Most of all, what surprised me more than the voice was the reaction of the people around me.

'S-sorry ......!　I made a little too much noise: ......!
Okay, I'll be right out!　Please, just the two of you, have fun!
'I know, Lady Dear!　That's what I mean!

　In contrast to my amazement at Deere's magnificent appearance, the people around me were very calm and light.
　Some of them even took it a little differently.
　Dia responds to their voices with a smile.

'You understand, thanks!　So long, boys!　Let's go, Kanami!
'Oh, yeah, ......'

　Apparently, while I was working all over the continent, Dear had been interacting with the local Confederacy.
　Now it seemed that the people of the city knew more about Dia's personality than I did.

　Thus, thanks to Deah, I was able to get out of my predicament. When we walked until the believers were out of sight, she muttered as she looked at her clothes.

''--Ha. You've been found out after all: ....... Can't I have clothes?　This is the one I've been using all my life for men's clothing, even though it seems to be the complete opposite of the one I wear in the cathedral: ......

　From the way she talked, it seems that Dia was confident in her disguise.
　But in the eyes of others, including me, that's a good thing.

I'm sorry, Dia. I don't think that's a disguise. I think I've said it before, but I can't hide my gender normally.
It's not good enough. ...... It was my favorite because it was so cool, but I don't think I'll be wearing it for a while, except in the maze.

　It's denied by me, too, and Dia is frustrated as she picks at the hem of her clothes.
　Seeing this, I invite her to join me.

''Then, now that my stomach is swelling up, how about we go to the clothing store next time?　Let's go buy some new clothes.

　Continuing on from yesterday, I suggested shopping for clothes.
　However, in this other world, it wouldn't be a straightforward shop, but a custom-made tailor's shop. This is because, unlike in the 'original world', there is easily a large difference in the body shape and physical characteristics of individuals depending on their race.

　I turn my toes to the clothes shop.
　I try to get Dia to enjoy her holiday to the fullest, just like Kounell, and this time I try to pull her hand. But it's not--.

'No, thanks. More importantly, can you give me something to hide my face from the 'belongings'?
............

　He refused to buy it.
　I could tell from his expression that he was being reserved, "Not enough to buy.

　Today I had made a plan to be a luggage carrier and purse, just like I was with Kounell.
　But Dia's poverty exceeded my expectations, and I feel that perfect plan crumble and move forward.

　I had no choice but to interfere with Dia's clothes and my 'belongings' with a new technique I had developed a while ago.

It's called armor break.

　He uttered that and snapped his fingers.
　Dia was aware of the activation of the magic. However, she believes me and accepts 《Default Armament Destruction (Armor Break)》 without any resistance at all.

　As a result, the magic dressing is completed.
　In an instant, Dia's men's clothes were replaced with the souvenir 'Clothes of the Otherworld'.

　It was mainly a folded (pleated) top and bottom outfit (one piece) that I thought would look good on Dia, as well as various accessories such as socks and boots. It's not a cheap set.

''--Oh, oh!
I bought some clothes yesterday as a gift that will fit in with our clothes. If you don't want to go to the clothing store, I want you to pick it up now. I'm sure you'll be happy to know that the ...... quenelle is not a problem for you because you got carried away and made me buy you thirty outfits.
A present?

　If she expressed it that way, even Dia would not be able to refrain from it.

　She looked at the clothes she was wearing from her toes to the tips of her sleeves.
　She accepts the gift from me with open arms and stretches her chest.

'Well, what do you think?　Kanami, does it look good on you?
'Yeah, it looks great on you and it's pretty. I bought it because I thought it would look good on Dia, so that's no surprise.
'Heh, heh. ....... I see!

　I couldn't get to the clothing store, so I was going to get a larger mirror out of my 'possessions' somewhere. However, Dia's eyes lit up and rejoiced so much that she didn't have to.

　She's in such a good mood that she looks like she's about to skip, and she walks down the street, checking the various parts of her clothed clothes, even further ahead than I was in front of her.

　He must be happy.
　That fact makes me happy too.
　I'm sure you'll be able to tell from her behavior and expression that she will take good care of her clothes.

　--I'm so glad I could give it to you now.

　After confirming that Dia enjoyed the gift sufficiently, I take out the large scarf, which is what I originally requested, from my "belongings".

''Yes. And while you're at it, something to cover your face.

　If you wrap it around your neck and bury it up to your nose, you'll be able to hide your physiognomy pretty well.

'Oh, I see. We've got to cover our faces.
This one's not a gift, it's hand-knit, but it's also a gift. I've been making them occasionally since Snow taught me, so I'll give them to you.
'This one's hand-knit or ....... Thanks so much, Kanami!　All right, next time I'll take a lesson from Snow.　I have to repay you!

　Dea was also determined to knit a scarf and give it to me as a gift.
　However, I'm the one who regularly receives these types of knitting from Snow and Maria, so I'd like her to try something else if possible.

　Immediately, Dea wrapped the scarf she had received around her neck in a circle.
　This time she ran down the street with dancing steps.

''Hehehe ......''

　Deere spins around with a soft smile on her face.
　Her tail-like back hair, along with her scarf, turns and bounces around.

　It would be impossible to hide her gender anymore. However, the chances of recognizing her as Dia from the atmosphere, which is very different from the usual, must have been less than the man's outfit earlier.
　Having accomplished my goal, I ask, "Dear, why don't we go to the clothing store?

'Dear, if you're not going to the clothing store ......, where do you want to go next?'
'Hmmm, I can't think of anything!　Utterly and utterly!
'Not at all ......, there was a place you wanted to go with me today ......
'It's there, but!　What can I say, I'm full of heart right now!

　Like me, Dia seemed to have her original plan blown up.
　She's dressed in the gift clothes I gave her and seems to be having fun just walking down the street.

　She really is a shallow girl of greed. ......
　The moment the lust-filled Kounel found out that I was going to be her purse, she shopped to the limit - and she was still far from satisfied with it. And yet, Dia is like this, without any calculation.

　Even if Dia herself claims that she's not an apostle, it's no wonder that people still whisper that the true angel sent from heaven must be Dia.

'Then it's not the clothes you want, it's the sword you want or something. It's okay if you don't want to buy a sword, but you want to make one. If you borrow the workshop of the guild 'Epic Seeker', I'm sure we can do a lot of things.

　I try my best to somehow draw desire out of that naive Dear.
　I make suggestions that seem to fit her taste, but--

'Epic Seeker?　Well then, let's go to Snow's place now. As I recall, I'm with Kanami today, so he said he was going to train for a whole day at the guild. ...... Kanami, there's a present for everyone, right?

　He's already very happy with himself, so it's his friends' turn to be next.
　Dia can think naturally.

'...... Sure, there is. Then let's do it. --Magic 《Connection》

　Deciding that it was useless to persist anymore, I moved to a nearby alleyway and then generated a magical door for movement.

　Me and Dia and I ducked through that door together - to the office of the Epic Seeker's headquarters, and we made a momentary trip to the office.

　The hustle and bustle of the streets of Valt Country has vanished, and the silence unique to the prime location of Lauravian Country envelops us.
　There was no one else in that room. There were only two desks, one for office work and the other for visitors, which I had missed. I immediately unfold the Dimension and try to find Snow's whereabouts - but it is interrupted by a wave of magical power that strikes my entire body.

''----!

　Dia, who had moved as well, frowned and turned her head in the direction from which the wave of magic power had come.
　Her gaze was on the wall of the office, but she had a perfect grasp of the magic power of the two people beyond it.

''The magic power is too distinctive and easy to understand ....... Is it because of the opponent you're fighting (or)?　Anyway, Snow is over here, Kanami.
'These two stand out when they fight. My skin shakes so much.
'They say that unattributed is often a property of bobbing and shaking,' Fran told me.

　Probably, the wizards of the Lauravian nation would be horrified every time these two fought.
　So much so that the wave of magic power that makes our skin tremble is tremendous.

　With that tremor as a landmark, we move on.
　We leave the office and enter an outdoor facility through the corridors and stairs of the base.

　It's the place where I once took the test to become a guildmaster after losing my memory.
　It's smaller than the one around the theater ship Vualhura, but it's more than enough of a training ground for a guild to own.
　Right now, another test was being held there.