Through dense forest, across the ford of the river, and through narrow gaps in the rocky terrain, we made our way up the mountain to the village.

(...all those hard roads.)

The hidden village of the Demon Blood People.

　It was probably in a place that was not easy to reach after all.

　Looking at the sky, the sky was beginning to burn red.

　It was already evening.

　We've been traveling for nearly half a day.

　The young Solstice had long ago left for the dream world while being held in her father's arms.
　........Yeah, she really is an innocent sleeper.

　Smiling, he thought.

It's just up ahead.

　Iltimina's father announced shortly.

　It was a cave hollowed out of the mountain's rock wall. The entrance was hidden by bushes, so it was impossible to see it even if you stood close enough.

　With the light of the lantern, we made our way inside.

　We walked through the narrow darkness for what seemed like a hundred yards?　Eventually, up ahead, I saw the sunshine.

(Finally, an exit?)

　And when I got outside - I was amazed.

　It was a large green field of grass, surrounded by rock walls on three sides.

　On the other side was a bright red sunset sky. Apparently, the other side of the meadow was cut off by a precipitous cliff.

(Ah ... a house.)

　On the grassland, I saw patches of houses.

　Livestock that looked like goats were being kept within the fence and crop fields were being built. In the midst of it all, the villagers were at work, their faces lit up by the setting sun and black shadows.

(There really was a village deep in the mountains like this...)

　It was amazing.

　And the scene was truly an idyllic, ordinary village.

'Welcome to the village of Ludo,'

　The girl next to me laughed.

　Lud village.

　This is.........the place where that Illtimina-san was born and raised.

　That distant hometown.

　And--.

..........

　I look at Illtimina, who has become a girl.

　A bright smile.

　It was a carefree smile, much more full of light than that person I knew.



　I couldn't finish it when I thought that.

"...Mr. Merle?

　At my expression, she nods her head slightly.

　Flustered, I shook my head from side to side and falsely said, "Nah, it's nothing.

You two ready to go?
Uh-huh.
I'm sorry, Father.

　Illtimina's father called us to start walking.

　As we approached the village, the villagers noticed us and immediately called out to us.

'Il-chan, Sol-chan, you're safe!
We were all very worried about you.
It's good to have you back.
Mmm-hmm.

　They all seemed to be kind.

　Even the girl, Illtimina, seemed a bit happy, though she seemed sorry for worrying me.

　But when she noticed me beside her.

"...what?　.... who?
You don't think the outside...
..........

　The expressions of all the villagers were strained.

　Their gazes hurt.

(.........I guess it can't be helped, though.)

　I am a foreigner in this closed world.

　Ms. Illtimina is about to say something to the people around her, but she's on the verge of saying something.

"Irna, you take Sol and go home first.
What?

　His father gives him his sister, who is still sleeping.

"He will be taken to the chief.
But, but...
'Your mother was worried about you, too. Can't wait for her to show her face and reassure her.

　She looks at me like she's lost.

　Cock.

　I nodded.

'I'll be fine.'
..........

　Miss Illtimina stared at me for a moment.

Yes I understand, Father.

　Eventually, he nodded and disappeared deeper into the village, holding his sister carefully in his arms.
　I saw her back off.

Let's go, then.
Yes, sir.

　I, along with Iltimina's father and four other hunters, started walking in another direction to meet the village chief.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　At the top of a grassy hill, there was a house a little larger than the surrounding area.

　Apparently, this was the home of the village chief.

Can I leave my equipment with you?
Yes, sir.

　Iltimina's father says, and I obey obediently.

　The tone is asking for it, but in substance it's more like an order?　-- because behind me are four men with bows in their hands.

(Well, I don't want to cross them.)

　There's no need to be alarmed.

　If these people wanted to kill me, they could have killed me on the way here.

　Receiving the 'fairy sword' in its sheath, he handed it to one of the people behind him.

"You guys wait here.

　I ordered.

　The four of them nodded.

(Is this the leader of the five hunters?)

　I thought so.

　Then me and Iltimina's father went into the village chief's house together.

　The room was illuminated by candlelight.

　It was an ordinary house with nothing remarkable about it.

　One old woman was sitting behind the table.

'Oh, Ortima?　What's going on?

　A wrinkled voice.

　The village chief was a petite old woman who looked to be over seventy years old.

　She was probably about my height, but her waist was bent like a shrimp, making her look even smaller.

　Her wrinkled face is serene.

　Iltimina's father, who was called out to me - his name is Ortima, isn't it - puts me in front of him, who was standing behind him.

　The old woman's eyes, which were like threads, open wide.

''Oh, dear, is that child from 'outside'?'''
Looks like it.

　Ortima-san nodded and told this village chief the story that her daughter had told her on the way to the village as well.

　After listening to everything, the village chief.

All right. All right.

　He nodded a few times and then looked at me.

'You saved Irna and Sol, thank you. ...I'm just sorry, but there's a lot of circumstances. Can you tell this baba a little more about the boy himself?
Yeah, sure.

　Of course, I'll comply honestly.

(In short, an interview and a background check, right?)

　She laughed happily at my honesty and said, "Ho ho ho.

Come on, sit down first. Let me make you a cup of tea.

　He urged me to sit down in a chair facing him, "It's not very good, though, is it? He added mischievously.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


First of all, is Merle the right name for the boy?
Yes.

　I nodded and sipped my tea.

(...doesn't it taste good?)

　Those words were not humble; the tea was really just hot water with a hint of color.
　I'm a little surprised.

　The village chief laughed at me and said, "Hohoho.

So, Merle-boy, you're just a kid, are you really an adventurer?

　I ask.

(Identification first, I guess?)

　As I thought that, I let the magic power flow into my right hand.

　POW!

　A red magical crest emerges and glows on the back of his hand.

　He lifted it to the side of his face.

Yeah. I'm Marl, a red-marked adventurer from the neighboring country of Shumuria. I belong to an adventurer's guild called the Moonlight Wind.

　That's his name.

　They look a little surprised.

"You're from a neighboring country, aren't you, little man?
Yes.

　I nodded.

　Ms. Ortima looked a little thoughtful.

''Speaking of the 'Moonlight Wind,' a person named Kirt Amandes, the Golden Mark demon hunter invited by the Kingdom of Shumuria, should have belonged to the ceremony of the 10th anniversary of the marriage of Emperor Arun and the Empress that is currently being held,''

　I told him.

(Oh, you know Mr. Kilt?)

　It's great to see that even in our neighboring country of seven years ago, our name is already known, as expected of Mr. Quilt.

　At the same time, we got some new information.

　On her way back from the ceremony, she told me that she had found Ms. Illtimina and her sisters.

　In other words.

Tragedy is about to strike this village...

　The fact that.

　As I was thinking about this, I noticed that the village chief was looking at me.

''.......What?''
Oh, no, it's nothing.

　She laughs serenely, wrinkles growing.
　Then.

I know that Merle boy is an adventurer.
Yes.
But then, even more so, how did you get lost in the woods next door?　...For what purpose, for example?

　I asked.

　At that moment, the village chief's meek expression didn't change. But there was a serious light in her narrowed eyes behind the wrinkles.

　Ortima-san, who was standing behind her, was also staring straight at my face.

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

　I've come up with a lot of excuses on the road to this point.

'I came to this country just to visit,'
"Huh?

　Only one of the old woman's eyes opens wide.

'Ms. Kirt is the symbol of our guild. I was curious about the country she goes to, Arun. So I thought I'd see it with my own eyes.
Hmm, just you?
Yes.

　Nodding.

''I'm still a 'red mark', but I've been told that my sword skills are still more than a 'blue mark'.

　As he said that, he looked at Ortima-san.
　The village chief also looks at him.

　He opens his mouth quietly.

''According to what Irna said, you got rid of seven 'White Fang Wolves' by yourself.
Really?

　The village chief's voice sounded impressed.

　I kept repeating the lie as if I were folding.

I heard there's a great labyrinth near here. I'm an adventurer myself, and I wanted to see the world's largest labyrinth with my own eyes at least once.
..........
"But on our way there, we were going to camp in the forest near the road, and when we went deep into the forest to look for food, we got wrapped in a huge fog and lost our bearings...

　So I shrugged my shoulders.

And then I found myself lost.

　He concluded.

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

　Both the village chief and Illtimina's father continued to stare into my blue eyes for a while.
　Eventually.

Did you see Irna again?
Yes.

　He nodded widely.

　The village chief snorted loudly, "Hmmm.

''There doesn't seem to be any inconsistencies in what we're talking about, does it?
..........
But ... well, yeah ... there's something too good to be true, but he doesn't seem like a bad kid.

　I nodded.

　Ortima-san looked at the village chief and then responded, "I understand.

(....Apparently, I passed, right?

　I let out a short breath of relief, hiding my nervousness inside.

　Actually, I'm sticky with sweat, like my hands and all.

　The village chief laughs, "Hohoho,

'Oh, by the way, I heard you hurt your body when you rescued Irna and the others, are you okay?'

　He asked me.

'Well the damage from your last job was still in your body and it feels worse this time?'
Okay.

　She nodded.

'Then take it easy for a couple of days,' she said, 'and then I'll give you three days of food, a lantern and a blanket. Then I will give you three days of food, a lantern and a blanket. I'm sorry, but it's a very poor village and this is the best I can do to repay you.
No, it's enough.

　I laughed.

　The village chief also laughs serenely.

'Ortima, let this little Marle boy stay at your house.
"........... Yes.

　Ms. Ortima looked like she wanted to say something for a moment, but in the end she nodded without saying anything.

　I got up from my seat.

　The head of the village said to me, in a mischievous tone, "Marle boy has married Irna.

If you marry Irna and become a member of the village, you can stay in this village forever.

　..............

(Illtimina-san and I........married........?)

　My cheeks burned as I imagined it.

　Ms. Ortima glared at her.

'The village chief,'
Oh, I'm just kidding.

　And an old woman who cowered, "Oh, scary scary scary," she said.

　I could only chuckle.

Let's go.

　In a slightly scary voice, Iltimina's father said.

　And.

One last thing.

　The village chief holds me back again.

　But his voice, though calm, has something heavy in it that I've never heard before.

　I turn around.

'What does this country of Arun look like from the point of view of Marl Boy, who lives in Shumuria?
..........

　The narrow eyes behind his eyelids were serious.

　I answered honestly.

"It's a good country, except for one flaw.
"Flaws?

　I replied.

"Discrimination against the 'Devil's Blood People'
..........
..........

　They were silent.

　At the prompting look, I continued.

'I thought it was impossibly awful, especially on the frontier. There is discrimination in Shumuria as well, but not to that extent. On the other hand, there is no discrimination in the Divine Imperial City, but.......

　The village chief chuckled.

"Poor people like us, living in that place, we'll be cold and poor in three days.
..........

　Now I have to giggle.

　She said.

'You do realize, don't you, little man?'
Yes.

　I admitted it honestly.

　--I'm not going to be the only one who's been in the same boat for a while.

　The eyes of the hunter, Ortima-san, narrowed sharply.

　While accepting that.

'I won't tell anyone about this village. If the other Arun's people know about it, there would be no point in helping those kids.
Hmm, okay.

　She nodded repeatedly in satisfaction at my response.

　The sisters' father looked somewhat complicated.
　But the stinginess was gone.

'I'm sorry I asked you so much. Thanks for answering.
Nope.

　I shake my head from side to side at the village chief's smile.

"Well, there's nothing in this village, but take your time.

　With that voice at my back, this time, I left the village chief's house with Ortima-san.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇


　We were led to a house on the periphery of the village.

　An ordinary house with nothing special in it.

　The door was opened by the owner, Mr. Ortima.

I'm home.

　I called inside.

　Behind its back, I saw a living room with a table and chairs.

(...........The decor is normal.

　At a glance, that's the impression I got.
　And.

　tottering

　I heard footsteps from the back and she appeared.

'Welcome back, Father ... and Mr. Marl!

　Iltimina, the girl who greeted me, looks surprised to find me next to her father.

　I chuckle inwardly.

Good evening.

　I greeted her.

　Ortima told her daughter, who was rolling her crimson eyes, that she would be kept in the house for the duration of her stay in my village.

''Really?''

　She stares at me.

　I look at her face.

(...maybe that was annoying?)

　I was a little nervous.

　Even though he helped me, we just got to know each other. And it's not funny that there would be a backlash if the opposite s*x of our generation suddenly moved in together.

　But.

'Yes!　Then take it easy while you're at home, Merle!
..........

　He smiled happily.

　
　If they accepted me, and they did, I felt sad that they didn't think of me as the opposite s*x.

(...It's selfish, isn't it, people's minds.)

　I chuckled to myself.

'What?　What's wrong?
Nope.

　I shake my head, smile, and say again, "Nice to meet you in the future.
　She smiles at me, too, and says yes.

　Ortima-san was watching our exchange with a complicated look on her face.

　And.

Welcome back, my dear.

　A very beautiful woman came from the back of the house.

(.........what?　(Solstice?)

　You looked so much like him, for a second, I thought I did.

I'm home, Vorn.　

　Mr. Ortima smiled with a soft, ever-so-soft smile.

　Ms. Forn.

　She must be Ortima-san's wife, and mother of Illtimina-san and Solstice.

　She looks to be in her late twenties or early thirties.

　Her purple hair, which reaches to her waist, is tied up in a single bun at her back.

　Her eyes are golden.

　His face was so similar to what Solstice would look like when she grew up........

　Apparently, the look.

　Ms. Illtimina is like her father.
　Solstice is like her mother.

　It seems to be.

　However, I could sense an adult's composure from Forn, similar to Illtimina's, and her golden eyes stared at me.

Welcome, Marle. I have heard about you from my daughter.

　So I smiled gently.

Thank you so much for helping my daughters.

　As it was, he bowed his head to me, a child.

　I'm a little surprised.

No, no, no.
'We'll be ready for dinner soon. Please wait a little longer.

　After saying that, a smiling Mr. Forn goes back to the back of the house.

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

　I'm starting to get a little nervous.

"Whew.

　I let out a breath of air, and beside me

Where's Sol?
He's asleep in his room. I'll wake you up before dinner.

　Such a father-daughter conversation.

　And then the girl took my hand.

It's almost ready. Merle, go sit at the table. This way.

　He laughs and pulls me to him.

　Ortima-san almost reached out her hand to say something, but she let out one sigh and went to the other room alone.

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

　As we waited at the table we were led to, the little girl, Solstice, woke up too.

Maal!

　He smiled happily at me.

　Yeah, I'm happy too.

　Soon, the dishes that the mother and daughter must have made for me came out.

"Yes, please enjoy.

　Illtimina, who is the same age as me, smiles.

　I clasped my hands together to say "Itadakimasu" and let her eat my food.

(Yes, it's delicious.)

　A bit thin.

　But it was surprisingly solid, with a vegetable and egg soup, hard bread, and a fruit dessert.

(Since it's called a hidden village, I thought it would be more modest...)

　Not so much.

　Ms. Kilt's old friend, Naruda, didn't seem to be as poor as her village.
　Well, if you think about it, there were high taxes in the wilderness over there, but maybe it's because this is lush green land and they don't pay taxes.

　Mucha Mucha.

..........

　Solstice grabs a spoonful and shovels the soup into her mouth.

　But despite being the smallest body, he has the largest amount of food.

(........You've been a big eater since then?

　I laughed a little.

　'Look, Sol,' said Illtimina-san, wiping the young girl's dirty mouth with a rag. Soltis pouted her lips, "Hmm~", and as soon as she finished wiping, she started eating her food again.

　Her parents laughed gently at the sight of the sisters like that.

(...............They're a close family.

　I thought so.

　All four of them had such wonderful smiles on their faces that it made me happy to see them.

　So.

..........

　When I think of the future that awaits us, I can't help but look away from their happy looking appearance--.


　◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇ ◇.


You'll have the whole place to yourself tonight.

　Thirteen-year-old Illtimina led me to what looked like a storage room.

　Bows, arrows and other hunting tools, and farming tools were grouped together in one corner.
　And in the center of the room, as a simple sleeping area, furs were laid on top of a pile of straw and a blanket was prepared with them.

　She was apologetic.

'I'm sorry, it was so quick, I couldn't get ready in time.
Nope.

　I laughed.

'It's nice to have some shelter from the wind and rain. Plus, it's a safe place to sleep.

　Just the other day, I was camped out in a dungeon.

　I was standing guard and always on the lookout for demons. I think it's a really comfortable place compared to that.

　The beautiful girl also laughed.

'It helps to hear you say that. I'll do better tomorrow.'
Thank you.
No. --Good night, Merle. Good night.
Good night, Illtimina.

　I'm not used to being called out.

　I'm still a little embarrassed.

　She smiles at me, and then leaves the room.

　Patan.

　The door closes.

　There was only one window in the room, and a beautiful red and white moon was peeking through it.

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

　With nothing to do, I quickly lay down on my bunk.

　The fur was soft and comfortable.

　I stroked him for a while, then turned onto my back.

　I look up at the ceiling of the small storage room, illuminated by the moonlight.

(.........Why am I here?)

　Or so I thought.

　This is the world seven years ago.

　Why did I go back in time, is everyone in the original world safe, and am I ever going to be able to return to the world in seven years' time in the first place?

　A lot of thoughts go around.

　The one that bothers me more than anything else.

(Is that 13 year old Illtimina... the Illtimina I know is a younger version of herself?)

　That question.

　If so, I don't know why I'm getting younger.
　But.

"...I want to start over.

　I can't get the murmur she spilled just before coming to the world seven years ago out of my head.

'I ... what am I going to do?'

　I blurted out.　　　

　Did I come to the world seven years ago for a reason?

　Then what do I have to do?　

(No, should we be interfering like this in the first place?)

　I worry that the world in seven years' time will be adversely affected.

　If I'm not good at it, even my meeting with Illtimina-san will disappear............I shuddered at the thought.

''Let's.......sleep.''

　Thinking about it doesn't give me any answers.

　The inflammation in my body has left me sluggish. I wanted to rest and not think about anything right now.

　I close my eyelids.

(...Good night, Illtimina.)

　In my mind's eye, I call out to that adult person I know.

　She smiled.

　Relieved by that, but breathing out at the loneliness of not giving me a hug, I slowly fell into the darkness of sleep.