The place where the camp base used to be was empty, and all that was left was an open area carved out of the sea of trees.

　From there, the black dragon carriages of the Arun army, including our 'cavalry carriages', with a total of over 20 cars, departed at once.

　Rattle, rattle, rattle!

　The path was built in a sea of trees and proceeded with violent vibrations.

(............)

　Outside the window, I can see the crumbling cliffs in the distance.

This is where the entrance to the Great Labyrinth was located.

　When I came here, I was with a total of five hundred people, three hundred of the elite of the Arun knights and two hundred who were my guards on the way.

　But on the way back, 200 of the guards and 250 of the advance troops that were the ground troops were added to the total number of 450.

(...If possible, I would have gone home with 750 men.)

　I didn't want a single death to occur - is it arrogant to think so?

Hmm....

　I exhale heavily.

　It wasn't the only thing to ponder.　

　I turn my gaze to the opposite side of the window.

'..........'
..........

　There is Illtimina sitting in the seat next to me, looking out the window.

　But her eyes are out of focus.

　In her beautiful crimson eyes, however, something (...) different from the scene in front of me seems to be reflected in them.

　I remembered what Kirt had told me before we boarded the train.

　The Restin region we are about to pass through.

　He said that it was the place where Mr. Illtimina lost her home seven years ago when her family was killed and her village was burned to the ground in a man-hunting attack. And, due to the deep hands of that time, Illtimina herself became incapable of bearing children.

'-- This road trip will be a hard time for Irna. Please, Merle. You must support Irna's heart.

　With a serious look in his eyes, Mr. Kilt asked me to do something.

　Of course, I wanted to do everything I could to support him, I thought.
　But.

(...what can I do to help you?)

　That's the key, I don't know.

　I try to talk to him, but he just gives me a raw answer.
　In the first place, I'm in her field of vision, but she doesn't seem to have entered her consciousness.

(.........I'm in trouble.)

　When you're struggling with something like that.

Marle, are you sure you want to share your 'divine armor'?

　Suddenly, Solstice spoke to me.

(Hmm?)

　By the way, she's sitting on the other side of me, with Ms. Illtimina across from me.

　I laughed at the girl who put her face at an angle in front of me, spilled her purple hair over her shoulders and asked me.

'Yeah. It's totally fine.

　It was all of us to begin with, and I don't feel like it's right for me to be the only one to have it all to myself.

(It's also a testament to the important bond I have with those two.)

　If separating them would help Rapt and Lectoris in the future, that was fine.

　But Solstice seemed to think differently.

''But because of that, the performance of the 'Divine Armor' will be reduced by a third, right?
Uh-huh.
Isn't that a shame?　With your strength reduced that much, if you were to encounter the 'Child of Darkness', would you be able to fight properly?

　She says with a furrowed brow.

　Certainly, her fears are not wrong.

(...but...)

　I replied.

"I don't know,
What...?
I don't know, but I think I'm okay with it because I have everyone else.

　That's honestly how I feel.

　Solstice is like, "Huh? And a dubious look.
　If you look, you'll see that Mr. Quilt, who is sitting across from me, is also looking at me with interest.

　I continued to talk.

I'm sure the current 'divine armor' can't be used to defeat the 'Tyrant Turtle' with such a great move. But if it's a technique with the same power, I think Kirt-san's 'Demon God's Sword and Zekijan' would be fine.
..........

　There are only so many situations in which you can use such a great technique.

　And I couldn't see that situation, and at that time, I collapsed the 'Great Labyrinth' and nearly killed everyone else as well.

''If I'm going to use the same power, I'm sure Kirt-san will be able to use it more correctly.
..........
..........

　I'm not ready to make that decision now.

'Honestly, it's more than I can hold even a third of the time, you know?　I have a feeling that if I have too much power, I'm going to make some irreversible mistakes. So I don't think it's a problem at all to be reduced to a third.
Hmm?

　Solstice has a look on her face that says she's skeptical.
　But.

Well, if that's what Marl himself thinks, then there's nothing more I can say about it.

　I cowered my shoulders.
　I laughed again.

'Thank you for worrying about me, Solstice.'
I don't care about you, I care about the world.

　boohoo!

　I was given an 'Akanbe' with all my might. Utterly and utterly........

　I chuckle and look at Kirt-san.

''I........am not wrong, right?''
"Mm.

　The beautiful master nodded.

'You are intelligent and have keen instincts. Now, do as you believe in yourself.''
Yes.

　I nodded widely at his smile.

　No one can know the future.
　Only time will tell if this decision is really right, too.
　But that's why.

(For now, I'll just trust my senses right now.)

　I thought it was the only way.

　And my blue eyes look at that person who believes in me more than I do.

"..........
..........

　But she kept looking out the window.

　She didn't hear our conversation either.

'....Sister Irna?
...Hmmm.

　Solstice was indeed confused by her sister's change, and Kilt-san also looked difficult.

(........Illtimina-san)

　After some hesitation.

　sizzling sound

　I grabbed her white right hand.

'............'

　His fingers responded and, faintly, he squeezed our hand back.
　But that was it.

　As usual, her white beauty continued to be directed out the window where the tree line continued.

　I let out a sigh.

　The vibrations of the bad road are shaking us, and more than 20 dragon cars are heading towards the Restin region under the blue sky, along the road that opens up to the sea of trees.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　Three days have passed since the Dragon Wheel's journey began.

　Illtimina-san's condition is the same as ever. When I call out to her, she gives me a raw answer, and most of the time, she doesn't notice me.

　Once, I spoke to Kilt-san in secret.

I'm sure Irna is fighting with something within herself right now. Please just be there for her now.
..........

　According to Kilt, when she learned of her own inability to conceive three years ago, it was worse when she learned of her body's inability to conceive.

　Suddenly, she was screaming and breaking things.

　Now she's quiet and stable in comparison to that, she says, even if her reactions are limited.

I think that's because of Merle.

　Kirt-san smiled sadly.

　........I'm sure she tried many things back then, but it was no good.

　Although I'm not aware of it, I seem to be the current heart support for Illtimina-san. That's why Kirt-san also relies on me.

(............)

　But I had no idea what to do about it myself.

　Also, we talked about Solstice.

　She was worried about the changes in her sister.

　But she didn't seem to know anything about the cause of the change.

　She had heard about it before, but apparently she had memories of being attacked by a man-hunter, but she didn't remember being picked up by Kilt-san in the Restin region.

　Was it because she was too young at the time?

　Or was it because he was too young at the time, or did he unconsciously block out the painful memories?

　Or maybe it was both.

''In any case, there's no need to force me to tell you.

　Kilt said.　

　Her prediction was that once they got out of the Restin region, Illtimina-san's condition would eventually return to normal.

　I felt bad for Solstice, but she decided that rather than talking poorly and bringing back painful memories, it would be better for Solstice to remain ignorant and wait until everything was over.

　I was torn, but I respected that decision as well.

(I'm sorry, Solstice.)

　As for the girl's emotional care, Mr. Quilt promised to take charge of it.

　In this way, we continued our journey with the Wong sisters.

　Then, on the fourth day.

　More than 20 dragon cars were on the road along a large river that we hadn't taken on the way there.

　Eventually, they crossed a ford.

"From here, the Lestin region.

　Mr. Kilt gave me a sneaky earful.

　It was going to be about three days before we got through - the hardest three days for Mr. Illtimina.

　Rattle.

　The dragon carriage moved through the grassland.

　At the end of the green-carpeted grasslands, an expanse of forest could be seen, and further on, a hazy blue-white mountain range could be seen beyond. The tall mountains seemed to reach the clouds.

　Looking up, the sky was blue and the sun was shining.　

(..............A beautiful view.

　Or so I thought.

　It's idyllic and peaceful.

　But despite that, Illtimina-san's condition became worse.

　Gyuu........

Huh.

　As I looked out the window, Illtimina's fingers, which had been connected all along, gripped my hand like a vise.

　I was in so much pain that I almost screamed.

　Even when I looked up, there was no change in Illtimina-san's expression.

(................don't you realize?)

　Just gazing out the window, but only the color of my face had turned white through the blue.

　I remained silent.

　I figured I'd rather have my fingers broken like this than say something unnecessary and burden my mind.

　Mekhi.

.........

Hey, sister Irna!

　But Solstice noticed me frowning and slapped my sister.

''Oh....''

　Illtimina-san finally notices me.

　Those crimson eyes are staring at me.

(.........I feel like she hasn't seen me in a long time......)

　There was immediate astonishment in his eyes, and in a panic, his hand, which had seemed to be in a vise, popped away.

'I'm sorry, Marl!'
No, I'm fine.

　I laughed.

　I casually hid my hand behind my back, but Kilt-san got mad at me and asked Solstice to cast a recovery spell on me. By the way, he said it was really broken.

''I'm ... sorry.''

　Iltimina-san holds her mouth and looks like she's about to cry.

　How much ''It's okay?'' But she didn't listen to me.

　And from then on, she was 'out of shape', so she was more often than not lying alone in the bedroom bunk built into the 'cavalry car'.

''..........''
..........

　Me and Mr. Quilt sighed together.

　The next day, something even more troubling happened.

"...I don't feel so good.

　Oh my God, even Solstice said that.

　She has a blue face and holds her mouth.

'Is he drunk on a dragon car?　I was looking at the scenery outside and suddenly I felt a pain in my chest... ugh.
Hmm, okay.

　Mr. Kilt sat down next to the girl and patted her little back as he gently held her close.

　Her golden eyes casually looked at me.
　I gave a small nod.

(.........it's traumatic, after all.)

　Even if it wasn't in my surface memory, it was probably still in my subconscious.

　Mr. Kilt smiled like a mother, and

Don't worry. I'll be there.
Yes.

　Solstice exhaled heavily as she clung to her, somewhat relieved.　

　He hoped that he would get out of the Restin region as soon as possible - or so he hoped.

　Nevertheless, bad events coincided.

　It was only after the dragon car entered the city road from the grasslands into the forest, close to the mountains.

　The surrounding landscape turned white.

(.........fog?)

　A thick fog enveloped the entire forest, as if the effects of the long rains had been felt here as well.

　When I reached out the window, my fingertips became white and hazy.

　The dragon car in front of and behind us was no longer just a black shadow, and we had even lit lanterns in front and behind the vehicle to hang them as an anti-collision marker, just in case.

　Thanks to this, the speed of travel was slowed down.

　The original plan was to get through the Restin region in three days, but it was going to stretch out another day or two.

''..........''
..........

　Me and Mr. Quilt exchange glances.

'--at a time like this!

　I could tell that we both felt the same way.

　Since then, Solstice had been in a lull.

　But he never left Mr. Kilt's side for a moment. He seemed not to feel safe unless he was always sitting next to her and holding her clothes.

(............)

　I've made a few appearances in the direction of Illtimina-san in her bunk.

　But there have been times when she didn't even look at me, not to mention didn't talk to me much, whether it was guilt for breaking her finger or regret, she didn't even make eye contact with me. I was soberly hurt by that........

　Too much face time would be a burden.

　Though I had thought so.

I'm going to go check on Miss Illtimina.

　The white fog, which I couldn't see ahead, made me uneasy myself, I said that to the two of them and got up from my seat, and moved to the bunk room where that man was.


　◇ ◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇◇


How are you doing, Miss Illtimina?

　I walked into the bunk room and pulled a chair over to the side of the bed where she was sleeping and sat down.

　There was no reply.

　As she lay on the bunk, all she could do was stare at the white scenery outside that she could see through the window of the vehicle.　

(............)

　She wasn't rejecting me, I think.

　It just seemed to me that she didn't have the room in her heart for it. No, maybe I'm just trying to tell myself that.

　Clatter, clatter, clatter.

　The dragon car shook as it rode up the steps.

　After a long silence.

"...you're causing a lot of trouble, Merle.

　POTUS................her back muttered.

　I huff.

'Nope, not really!

　I shook my head, happy to be approached, but I shook my head as hard as I could.

　As gently as possible.

All I do is worry. I never once thought of it as a bother, you know?
..........

　I meant it.

　But I don't know how it sounded to her.

　For more than ten seconds, there was another silence, and then she said

''Well you heard it from Kilt, didn't you?''
I'm not sure...

　She couldn't answer right away.

　Regardless, she continued.

'I know in my head that it's a past that has passed through. ........But my heart betrays me. The pain, the fear, the despair of that time ... it shows the pain, the fear, the despair of that time over and over again in my mind, over and over again.

　That voice.

　When I heard that trembling voice, I felt for the first time that I could feel the depth of her heartbreak.

　I couldn't say anything.

　Ms. Illtimina felt jaded.

　She hadn't eaten a proper meal in the last few days.

　With her glossy dark green hair spread out on the sheets, she looked like a sickly, fragile woman, but that's why she was so unrealistically beautiful, and it seemed as if she would just disappear, I decided to take her hand in mine.

　Then.

I want to start over.

　A murmur spilled out.

　My hands stopped.

　It was too sad, too heavy, and sounded like I was about to cry, so I couldn't move.

(...........)

　I knew I could do something about it.

　I arrogantly and selfishly believed that I could be the emotional support for her.

　But.

...Father, Mother.

　When they showed me that I was crying and not crying, I knew it was an illusion.

　--I was helpless.

　I retracted my trembling hands, unnoticed.

　My closed lips trembled.

　Von.

　As I was gritting my teeth desperately trying not to show my tears, I heard a small noise.

(.........what?)

　It's a 'divine armor' that is kept in a pouch on my waist belt.

　A rainbow-colored light was leaking out of the gap.

　As I hurriedly took it out of the pouch, the 'rainbow-colored sphere' turned into fine particles as it spun around and scattered inside the bunk room.

(Huh?)　(Huh?)

　The room gleamed in front of me, bewildered.

　The next moment.

　clatter

　Mr. Illtimina jumped up from his bunk.

(Wha!?!)

　With a startled look on her face, she stuck to the bunkhouse window and looked out, pressing her forehead against the glass.

　She stared in unison, as if she had found something in that white foggy world.

　And then she

　bang

　He pushed me out of the way and jumped off the bunk, and then opened the door to the bunkhouse, which led to the outside, wide open even though it was still running.

　The cold outside air and a white mist entered the room.

　Thud.

　The hem of the dress she was wearing fluttered and flailed about.

　No way.

Mr. Illtimina?

　I shouted.

　But as if that was a signal, she didn't hesitate and jumped out of the open door and out of the dragon car.

　Bygouuuu........

　With a strong wind, nothing is left but empty space.

　It was too much, and for a moment it was hard to accept that it was real. But after a second or so of delay, I look out the open door.

(Mr. Illtimina!

　A world murky with white fog.

　In the midst of it all, there was a back running barefoot into the forest by the side of the road.

　The figure instantly moved away and was hidden by the white fog.

''What's the matter, Marl!

　Hearing my shouts and noises, Mr. Kilt comes into the bunk room.

　He lags behind, followed by Solstice, who sticks to his back.

　I'm stunned, stunned.

It's Miss Illtimina ... out of here.
What?

　Kirt-san made a startled face and immediately peeked out from above my head.

''........You're lying, sister Irna?''
..........

　Solstice muttered.

　Mr. Kilt frowned and took another look at the room, making sure no one was in the room and kneeling down in front of me.

'What happened?'
I don't know.

　I replied.
　But Solstice said angrily.

'What do you mean you don't know?　You were with my sister Irna, weren't you?　Then--
I really don't know!

　I shouted, blowing that accusation out of my mind.

　Solstice caught her breath and fell silent.

　Mr. Kilt's expression tightened, and then he touched me on the shoulder with a swoosh.

　Biggles.

　I couldn't help but shudder.

'Right.'

　Kilt-san's expression as he muttered was a face of some kind of responsibility.

(....)

　She regretted letting me do it alone - or so it seemed.

　I was powerless to save her heart because I was powerless.

　I couldn't sustain that wounded heart.

　It's my fault.

　It's my fault.

　When I was grieving, I came to myself with a start.

　Looking back inside the bunk room, on the back wall, that 'White Winged Spear' was also propped up against the wall, along with Illtimina-san's luggage.

(I entered the forest without any weapons...?)

　I finally realize that fact.

　Creepy.

　A shiver ran down my spine.

　It wasn't a joke. No matter how strong she was, entering a forest where there was a possibility of demons with her bare hands was nothing more than suicide.

''Illtimina-san........''

　I ran to my pack.

　Since I was in the dragon car, I removed my equipment. With only the "fairy sword" in my hand, I now run towards the door that remains open.

''Hey, Marle!''

　Kilt's impatient voice.

　Solstice's surprised face.

　Then, I dodged Kirt-san's hand that was extended towards me and kicked the floor with a thump, and my small body flew out of the dragon car.

　Bah!

　A strong wind slaps his entire body.

　I land on the ground with the impact and roll with a rumble, losing momentum.

　As I woke up covered in dirt, a number of black dragon carts ran past me at a tremendous speed. A cloud of dust, vibrations, and bouncing mud hit me.

　I ignored them.

Miss Illtimina!

　I ran backwards through the white fog for a while, and then jumped into the forest where she had disappeared - into the forest.