"Shaple, are you there?

　I ask as I enter the control room.
　Lara and the others don't seem to know what I'm talking about.

　A few moments later.


"Master?


　I hear a woman's voice out of nowhere.

"Whoa!
Someone's voice?
"Is there anyone else here besides ...... Cynthia and the others?

　The three of them were startled and their shoulders shook.
　Eventually, a woman suddenly appeared in the ...... empty space in front of them.

"Could it be the ...... Master?

　The woman's hands were shaking slightly.

"Yes. I'm back.
"Oh my ...... God. Where have you been, away from home for a thousand years? I've been so lonely. ......
I'm sorry.

　I apologize.

　Then the woman jumps into my chest.

"Shaple, shaple. What's wrong? A thousand years would have been a blink of an eye for you, Shaple.

　But the woman didn't answer my question.
　No, it's ...... Are you crying?
　I can hear her sobbing.
　I exhaled and gently patted the woman's head.

"Kurt ...... who is that guy?
Could it be Kurt's 1000 year old girlfriend?

　Lara and Cynthia were startled by Marise's words.

What do you mean?　What do you mean, Kurt?
"Cynthia ...... is jealous .......

　The two of them came close to me with great speed.
　You're jumping to conclusions.

She's not my girlfriend. In the first place, this woman ...... Shaple is not a person.

　When I held the woman ...... Shaple like this, there was indeed the warmth of a person. The touch of her soft skin is also that of a woman.

　However.

"Shaple is the house itself, so to speak. It's like the ...... artificial intelligence that runs the system.
""Artificial intelligence?"

　The three of them nodded their heads in unison.

　Yes.
　The systems in this house are many and varied.
　There are cleaning robots, there are alarm systems.
　It would have been very difficult for me to manage all of them by myself, so I wanted to distribute the burden.

Therefore, I created an artificial intelligence called Shaple. Artificial intelligence, as the name implies, is intelligence created by human hands. She probably knows this house better than I do. Hey, Shaple.

　I tap Shaple on the back several times.

Yes.

　Then Shaple slowly pulled her face away from my chest.
　Her eyes are a little puffy.
　Although Shaple is an artificial intelligence, I have tried to make her as close to a human as possible.
　It could be said that she was lonely a thousand years ago, and simply wanted someone to talk to.

But Shaple. I'm getting too many system malfunctions. What do you mean?
"Ugh, I'm sorry.

　"Ugh, I'm sorry." Shaple turned over, looking unhappy.
　However, after a thousand years, Shaple's system will indeed go wrong.
　I didn't give it that much durability.
　I'll fix it for you later.

"But ...... Master. You seem to have changed a lot since a thousand years ago.
Yeah, I've been reincarnated.
That's why I'm ......

　Shaple was immediately convinced.

Shaple is a ...... artificial intelligence?　You believed in Kurt's reincarnation right away.
We didn't believe it right away, either. ......
"We have a deep bond ...... with him, that's what it feels like.

　As the three of them spoke, Shaple gave them a sharp look.

It's not surprising that a master would do this. I'm not sure what to make of that. I'm not surprised by reincarnation magic.

　Resolute.
　Well, it would be a lot easier if someone knew about me a thousand years ago.



"Well, all three of you. I was skeptical earlier about reincarnation magic. ......

　I asked, and they shook their heads.

"It's okay. I believe you.
After all we've seen, we have no choice.
Cynthia ...... believes in Kurt, no matter what. ......

　Lara, Marise and Cynthia said this in turn.

　Well, .........

"And now that we're in the control room. There's something I want you three to do now.

　I started talking.

"What do you want me to do?
"Oh, ......, but first, Shaple. Bugnuba is about to return.
"......!

　Shaple was rendered speechless by these words.

That evil god is coming back to ...... this time ......?　Didn't the Master seal it?
"Yes, but... In the first place, it was impossible to seal Bagnuba forever. Until now, Razevara has been holding the seal for us.

　With a minimal explanation, Shaple understood, "Oh, I see. ......".

"Hey, hey, Kurt. What is this Bagnuba?
The three of you haven't explained it yet.

　I'm going to explain to them what happened in the deepest part of that underground labyrinth.

　The three of them all looked surprised.

They all looked at me with surprise, but then they said, "But it's okay, because Kurt's here!
It's not a problem if you're here.
"There's no one stronger ...... than Kurt.

　"No one is stronger than Kurt ." He seemed to be optimistic.

　That perception is not wrong, though. I think you're being a little arrogant.

But I'm going to need another year to completely defeat Bugnuba. But I'll need another year to fully defeat him, because I haven't fully regained the power I had a thousand years ago.

　However, ...... has no intention of living comfortably for a year after what happened to Bugnuba.

I'm going to make a year out of ten.

　I declared in front of everyone.

"...... What are you talking about? It's impossible for you to do that. It's beyond time.

　Marlies looks at me with a frown.

"Super ...... over .......

　Cynthia, however, ruminated on Marise's words and did not change her expression.

Cynthia has done it before with Maynard, so she knows. Yes, I'm going to transcend time now.

　I turned back to Shaple.

"Shaple?
"Yes, sir. You're going to Space-Time, aren't you?

　Shaple said as if she was ready.

"Space-time?　Kurt, what's that?
In that space-time, a year's worth of training can be compressed into ten hours. If we go into that space, we should soon have enough power to defeat Bugnuba.

　I replied to Lara's question.

"Oh, there is such a space?
"Yes. I created it a thousand years ago.

　However, space-time also has its disadvantages.
　Once you use it, you can't use it again for 100 years.
　At that time, I created such a convenient space because I had in mind that I would be reincarnated and go to a world many years later.

I've used it once before, a thousand years ago. I want you three to accompany me now to defeat Bugnuba. Are you ready?

　I said to the three of them.

"Uh-huh.
"I'll go anywhere if it makes me stronger.
"Cynthia will do her best.

　"Cynthia will do her best," they said, confused.

　Okay, .......

Let's go. Shaple.
"Yes, sir. Leave it to me.

　Magic power rushed from Shaple's hands.
　That magic turned into a big bubble that enveloped our bodies.

I'll be back in ten hours. Wait for me until then.
"Yes.



　Eventually, in a bubble of magic, we are lured into space-time.

　Finally.


Ten hours is only a moment compared to a thousand years.


　"Ten hours is only an instant compared to a thousand years," I saw Shaple smile and wave.