Butterflies are fluttering in the air.

In a gazebo in the middle of a flower garden, I - Mary - was drinking tea.

Ronnie, the handsome butler, is serving us.

On the table is a picture of the present world. It is a mirror that reflects what is going on in the world. There I see my brother, Rana, and his partner, Prine.

Normally, I can only see them while they are in the dungeon, but not now.

You're in my room!

The image on the screen is of me sleeping on the bed in my room.

And my brother is crying beside me, holding my hand as I sleep.

I turned my mouth to Ronnie, the handsome butler.

'Hey, I don't want to see this.

Ronnie kept smiling,

'But, Mary. You might want to take a good look at Lerna's thoughts.

'I don't need to see this, I know. I don't need to see this, I know that you care for me.

'I see.

Of course. I've seen my brother's adventures in the dungeon.

Rana enjoys exploring dungeons - or so it would seem to others. No, in fact, she is right.

My brother enjoys adventure.

But he is suffering more than that.

Because of me, of course.

You're doing your best to keep me awake.

You don't sleep much at night, and yet you dive into the dungeon every day with an air of unconcern.

You could use a little more rest.

Thanks to Prine, I think I can relax a little more, but if I don't, my brother will be ....... before me.

In the mirror, Rana is crying.

I can only watch her profile from here.

I want to wake up right now and tease her by saying, 'What are you crying for, big brother?

Mary-sama!

'You're annoying. I just got a speck in my eye.'

'Please use it.'

Ronnie was offered a white silk handkerchief. What a handsome guy, not only his face but also his behavior.

I borrow it without hesitation and wipe my eyes.

Oh, dear. It's funny that I cry even though I'm dreaming.

Thanks. If it were true, I'd wash it and return it, but that seems impossible for me right now, so I'll just return it as it is. I'm sorry.

I give the handkerchief back to Ronnie and take another cup of tea. It's delicious. The warmth and tenderness soak into my body.

I let out a breath and Ronnie almost opens his mouth, but then he freezes.

He looks at me in surprise.

No, he looks behind me. And then he just blurts out..,

'--Master.'

I follow his gaze and turn around.



There was the witch.



There she was, dressed in a very pointy hat and a tired coat.

She was short. Boots on her feet. In her hand she held a large wand and a grimoire, and on her right ring finger was a ring.

Hanging from her coat are a number of ornaments - I later learned that they are amulets - in the shape of a watch.

I look up.

She is younger than I expected.

I am thirteen years old, still a child, but I know her because I have seen many customers as the innkeeper's daughter.

She was probably in her late twenties. She had dark circles under her eyes, and to an unobservant person like me, she must have looked older than she was.

Her face, which looks like she is a bit unhappy and timid, adds to it.

What a waste of a beautiful woman.

The woman was smiling apologetically and flirtatiously.

It was like a woman who has grown up without any friends and has never figured out how to get along with others.

Like a woman who lost everything a long time ago and regretted it endlessly.

What a pathetic sight.

This is the witch of time.

She's the one who put me to sleep.

Hello, Mary.

The witch opens her mouth.

'I owe you an apology. I'm so sorry.

I reply.

'Don't look at me like that. You're ruining your pretty face.

Oh, I think.

I hold my mouth shut. I'm surprised at myself.

I thought that if I met a witch, I would hit her first without saying a word.

The moment I saw her face, I had been tempted to show her mercy.

You didn't have to do that just because I'm a kind and beautiful girl.

But there was something about her that made me do it.

The witch looked apologetic,

'Would you like to have a word with Ms. Rana?

'Can you do ......?'

'A little, if you don't mind.

'Then please.'

I understand," mutters the witch when she is done. She points her wand toward me.

'Oh, wait a minute.

'Yes.'

The witch looked at me with a puzzled look. Her eyes are innocent, as befits her age. She doesn't look like a very evil ...... person.

'Before you go on, you're going to have to explain a lot to me. Why did you put me to sleep? What do you want? Who are you anyway?



'I'm sorry, I can't tell you yet. Ei'.

'Ah-hoo!'

The tip of the cane glows.

My consciousness snapped.





When I came to, I was in a dungeon.

Next to me were my super-sized brother and my super-sized Prine-chan.

No, no. I am smaller.

I am in the form of a fairy.

I can't remember what happened before. I was having tea with a handsome man in a flower garden, I think...

But I know what I have to do.

This is the 21st level of the dungeon.

And just now, the brother and Prine-chan, who defeated the evil spirit that possessed the giant horse, are descending the stairs to the 22nd level.

I'm going to call out to them.

Prine-chan notices my presence and looks at me in surprise.

Good luck, big brother!

My brother turned around.

"--Mary?

'Yeah. It's me, big brother Rana.

'Oh no, why ......?'

'I don't know, but I feel like a fairy now. I guess I'm cute.'

'What are you talking about? ....... 'No, but you're really Mary, the way you say that. ......?

'That's why I said yes. Oh, I don't have time for this. Well, I don't know about you, but I'm fine. I'm having fun over there. Don't worry big brother!

'I'm fine, you've been asleep all day. And you don't even breathe, you don't even eat!

'Uh, yeah. I seem to be that way over there, but I'm perfectly normal over here. Tea and cookies are good. And there are good looking guys.

'Huh! No, I don't get it! What do you mean, this way or that way?

'Right. I don't understand. I don't either. Let's see... ...... Oh, no. My head's all fuzzy, like I'm in a fog.

Prin e is frightened,

'Um, well, Mary? You know, you know,''

Despite the timidity of the gestures, the questions were very precise.

Where are you?

The older brother turned to Prine,

'No, where, Mary? Yes, I'm here--''

I intercept.

'No, brother. That's a very good question, Prine! I'm in a flower garden in a dream, I think.

'In a dream ......? Flower garden? What do you mean?

My brother is in a state of confusion.

However, Prine-chan, next to him, looks serious and gives an even better confirmation.

'You are eating tea and cookies in the flower garden in your dream, aren't you? --Whether the consciousness is trapped in a different space, or the sleeping spirit has such a hallucination, then it is not surprising that the surgeon is in the same space--. Excuse me, Mary. Is there anyone else here besides the handsome man?

'Let's see,...... there was one,...... there wasn't one.'

'What else do you remember?'

Prine's question seemed to clear the fog in my head.

I nodded my head.

'...... I kept looking at my brother and Prine. I'm not sure if that's true or not. Yeah. I've been watching them.

In my fairy form, I flew in front of my brother's face.

'I think you know I don't have to tell you now, but I will. --I'm going to tell you something. Don't be in a hurry, hurry up and save me.

The look on my brother's face at that moment was priceless.

He was so upset, and then he got all shaky and crumpled up,

'I know, you idiot. ......'

I started crying.

He cries a lot and says trivial things.

'You're not so cute when you're a fairy, even when you're this small. ...... you ...... ugh.'

I was crying, too,

'...... Huh? I don't know what you're talking about to the cutest little sister in the world. ......'

Prine is crying next to her brother. We're all such crybabies!

That's right, big brother. You have to take good care of Prine-chan, okay? I've been watching you. Don't make her do anything too naughty.

I didn't make you do anything naughty! Hey, Prine?

'What? I'm not sure if it's ...... that .........'

Rana is flustered, and Prine looks in the direction of the day after tomorrow.

I say.

'A piece of cloth for a dancer.



'Hah!

'Angel underwear'.

'No, that's not it.'

'Shells'.

'Ggh!

'What do you say?'

'I'll try to moderate: ....... I mean, you don't have to look that hard!

Don't worry, you won't be able to see into your room at the inn. You don't have to follow your brother's advice too much, do you, Prine?

'Haha ....... I'm fine, Mary-chan.'

'Well, I know, but...'

Cough, cough.

'Okay? Anyway, my body is still asleep, but I'm fine over here! Don't do it for me, do it for your brother and Prine, and take on the dungeon.'

'Mary ......'
'Mary-chan ......'

'And you're crying again! Enough! Take it easy! Hey!

'All right. But we don't have much time. The doctor says you'll be dead within a year.

'What's the point if my brother dies before then! What about you, Prine!

'That's true, but ......'

'Anyway--oh, I think we're out of time. Lana, don't think too much! Prine, take care of your brother! Thanks to you, my brother is alive!

'Oh, no, I've been getting a lot of help from ...... Rah-kun. ......'

'No, of course not! If it weren't for Prine, you'd be dead ten times by now! Bye, you two! Bye-bye--''

Mary!
'Mary, little Mary!

My brother and Prine scream. My vision goes black.

And that's the end of my conversation with them.





'--Hey?

When I opened my eyes, my body was sitting on a chair in the gazebo in the flower garden.

'Welcome home, Mary.

'Ronnie ....... 'Oh, I'm back again, aren't I?

''I'm sorry.''

Ronnie offers me a handkerchief again.

I realized I was crying.

'...... can I blow my nose with this?

'Go ahead, do as you please.

'I'm just kidding.'

He takes it and wipes away his tears.

'Oh, what about the witch? I haven't hit him yet, and I have a lot of questions.

'The master has returned. He seemed to be very tired from having sent Mary's consciousness back to this world.

'You didn't deserve that. It's none of my business.

'I see.

Ronnie took the handkerchief from me,

'...... Dear Mary'.

What?

'How can you hate the Witch of Time?

Of course not. I was going to say that, but I couldn't get the words out.

I think I'm sweet as honey.

I won't tell you.

--I just can't see the witch as a bad guy.

Ronnie. Tea. And cookies.

'Yes, sir.

After pouring the handsome butler a cup of tea, I once again watch the adventures of Rana and Prine.

'...... be careful, big brother'.

I'm Mary. Lana's sister.

In my dreams, I watch over their adventures.