"Well, I guess we better get back to Lara and the others.

I muttered to myself as I turned on my heel after the trials of the Red Bird and Blue Bird were over.
　I muttered, and turned on my heel.

Master," "Take care.

　The voices of the two birds overlapped.

　But I think there was still something left in the ......?
　I can't say that I've regained my pre-reincarnation powers yet, to be flattered. Before my reincarnation, I had a lot of power.
　What should I do now?

I'm not sure what to do now. ...... But first, let's see how Lara and the others are doing.

　In the event that you're not sure what you're looking for, you'll be able to find a lot more information on the web.
　I've already used consciousness-sharing magic on the three of them. With this, you can watch them from afar.

It would be nice to look at them slowly when I get back, but ...... I want to see how quickly they've grown. Let's take a look.

　I focused my attention and shared my consciousness with the three of them.

　"Marlies!

"Marise, look out!
Yes, yes!　Thank you so much!
I still can't get the damage through. ......

　I could vaguely see the three of them in my mind's eye.
　I'm not sure what to do, but I'm sure I'm not the only one.

"Ha, ha, ha. ......
I'm getting tired of this.
I'm getting tired of all this. ......

　The three of them put their hands on their knees while looking at the contradictory creatures.

　The three of them look at the contradictory creature and put their hands on their knees. Hmm, they seem to be quite exhausted.
　On the other hand, the ...... contradictory creature, which exists while existing, is in high spirits.
　The contradictory creature is looking at the three of you as if assessing you.

I'm not sure if ...... we can defeat the contradictory creature after all.

　Lara whimpers.

It's not true. Kurt always only gives us challenges that we can overcome.

　Marise encourages.

"Yeah, ...... you're right, ...... we should at least get one shot at the contradictory creature. Kurt is disappointed. ......

　Cynthia has not lost her will to fight.
　But...

I'm tired, though!　I can't move another step.

　I'm not sure if it's because I've been moving around for so long, but Lara waved her hands around like a sluggish child.

But if you think it's just one ...... shot, it's just one ...... shot.
Lara!

　The contradictory creatures attacked the exhausted Lara.
　Marise tries to cast a warding spell, but it's too late.
　Lara is the vanguard of the three, and she is the one who moves around the most. She must have been more fatigued than the others.

　Do you need help?

　No, this is .......

It's so hard. ......

　Lara watches with blank eyes as the contradictory creature comes towards her.
　She's just staring blankly, not thinking.

　Even so, ...... Lara has accumulated a lot of experience by working with me.
　I reflexively reached out and fired my Fire Spear.
　I'm sure she didn't waste any conscious thought on it.

　The spear of flame extended to the contradictory creature and slipped through its body as before--


　Boom-boom-boom!


　--It didn't.

　The fire spear hit the contradictory creature and made a loud explosion.

"What?　What do you mean?

　Lara rolls her eyes.
　Lara rolled her eyes. When the black smoke cleared, the contradictory creature had completely disappeared.

"Lara, what's going on?
I attacked the contradictory creature. ......

　Marise and Cynthia immediately rushed over and asked Lara.
　But she's still confused.

I don't know, either. It's just that ...... I'm so tired that I just cast a spell without thinking and that's what happened. ......

　I'm just too tired to think about it.

I'm not sure what to do.

　But when Marise heard this, something seemed to occur to her.

Kurt told me to look at contradictory creatures with my mind's eye. Isn't that what Lara was doing?
"What do you mean ......?

　Cynthia nodded her head.

Perhaps, but you have to defeat the contradictory creature ...... or it might kill you ...... and you might disappoint Kurt... ...those are the evil thoughts and distractions that get in our way. If we can get rid of them and release the magic with an honest heart, ......?
I'm not sure what to say.　I'm not sure what you're talking about, Marise!


I don't have a choice. Because I don't understand it either.

　Well, you've finally arrived at the answer.
　Contradictory organisms are the very nature of the mind.
　It's like a riddle quiz. ...... For example, let's say I picture three people in my mind. But they are not actually there in front of me.
　This is the logic of contradictory organisms.

　In order to defeat him, you have to stand on the same stage as him.
　In such a case, the "evil thoughts" and "distractions" mentioned by Marise will become a hindrance.
　I didn't expect to realize that in about two hours.

　But even if you notice it, it doesn't mean you can do it easily.

"Hey, Marlies!　What's wrong with him?

　I'm not sure if they're upset that they've been beaten, but the contradictory creatures attacked the three of us at once.

I'm not sure what to make of it, but I'm sure it's worth it.

　Lara held up her hand and unleashed her magic as before.
　Lara held up her hand and fired a spell as before, but the Fire Spear passed through the contradictory creature and did no damage.
　The very idea of ...... erasing thoughts can become a thought.

"Eye of the Mind ......
Marise, look out!

　A contradictory creature attacked Marise.
　But she didn't panic, she kept her eyes shut and her left hand on her chest.
　It was as if time stood still around her.

"Fire Spear.

　In a calm voice, Marise muttered the name of the spell.

　Then a spear of flame shoots out and strikes the contradictory creature. As with Lara, the contradictory creature disappeared in a cloud of smoke.

"Wow, Marise!
"How did you do that, ......?

　Lara and Cynthia are excited.
　Lara and Cynthia were excited, but Marise was not daunted by this and did not look away from the remaining contradictory creatures.

I used to do a lot of mental training when I was a kid. I used to sit on the ground and if I moved even a little, I would be beaten from behind. At the time, I thought I was just being bullied, but I never thought it would come in handy here.

　But it has certainly been a source of sustenance for Marlies now.
　She was able to capture the contradictory creature with her mind's eye and attack it.

Is there a trick to this?
I'd love to know. ......

　Lara and Cynthia are ducking and dodging, using warding magic to prevent the attack, and asking Marise.

It's difficult. It's just important not to panic. It's fortunate that the contradictory creature's attack power is not that great. Even if you get attacked once, you won't die. ...... It's important to have that kind of determination.
"Well, that sounds difficult.
But if we don't do it, ...... we'll never get through this ordeal. ......

　Lara appears to be reluctant, but there is a definite motivation in her eyes.

　I'm not going to worry about it.
　It won't take long to get this far.
　I blocked out the images in my mind, relieved to hear that.

　...

The speed at which the three of you have grown is astounding.

　I marveled.

　But then ...... the ground suddenly began to shake.

"Hmm ...... an earthquake. No, this is an ...... earthquake.

　The shaking of the ground was so great that rocks were peeling off from the ceiling and the ground.
　The cave must be collapsing at this rate.

"Oh, yes, I remember. The ordeal is still on.

　I remembered what happened a thousand years ago and saw the Red and Blue Birds.

"The previous ones were preliminaries. Now comes the real test.

　That's quite a gimmick I had a thousand years ago.

　I don't feel any fear about the coming ordeal.
　On the contrary, I felt my spirits soar.