Kreia!

Urs...... wubu!


　A female bannerman hugged Kreia as soon as she stepped into the room, and Kreia was hugged by the bannerman, interrupting her call.

　I'm not sure if you've heard of it or not. was.

　No, I knew that the woman who came was Ursula Utgarza. I had been told in advance that one of the golden generation would be coming, and from what Kreia had said just before, I was sure that this other woman was Ursula.

　Nevertheless, the reason why I couldn't recognize him as Ursula right away was because the Ursula in my memory and the Ursula in front of me right now were so far apart.

　The Ursula I knew had blue eyes reminiscent of lake water, honey-colored hair, tanned wheat-colored skin, and a face with prominent freckles. Her skin was tanned and wheatish, and she had a freckled face. She did not like women's clothes, which were difficult to move in, and wore only men's clothes when I saw her.

　She was also short, a head shorter than Kreia, who was smaller. The way she referred to herself as "I" and the fact that her hair was cut short like a boy's, made her look like a boy at first glance.

　In contrast to Sydney Sky Sheep, who was often mistaken for a girl, it was common for people who saw the Golden Generation for the first time to mistake the gender of Sydney and Ursula.

　That was the Ursula I knew five years ago.

　The current Ursula, on the other hand, is taller than ever. She used to be shorter than Kreia, but now she has clearly surpassed Kreia in height.

　It is not only her height that has changed. Her hair, which used to be short, has grown to her shoulders, her skin is white and smooth, and her long, slit eyes have both the sharpness of a swordsman and the beauty of a woman.

　Her neat face was free of even a trace of freckles, and her limbs were long and supple, making her look surprisingly good in her Seirin Hatakama. The body that can be seen through her clothes is also feminine and round, and Kreia's face is half buried in Ursula's chest when she is hugged. No one would mistake the current Ursula for a man.

　--I mean, is it really Ursula, this person?　She's almost a different person.

　When I was rather seriously confused, Ursula's eyes turned to me, as if she had noticed my gaze.

　Immediately, both of her lake blue eyes widened in surprise.

　I wondered what had startled her, but before I could find out, the calm voice of Diarte Berch stopped her.


"Stand down, Utgarza.

Sorry about the ......, Flag Officer.


　Ursula grudgingly moved away from Kreia, but I don't think it was my imagination that I saw a sharp light in her eyes the moment she responded to Diarte's voice.

　According to Kreia's story, Ursula belonged to the First Flag. Naturally, Di'Art, the flag commander of the first flag, is her immediate superior, but I don't see any respect or trust in Ursula's eyes. Rather, there is a feeling that is the opposite of respect and trust.

　--Somehow, I felt that Ursula knew the circumstances that led to Kreia's escape from the island. Otherwise, Ursula would not have behaved this way toward her superior.

　Thinking to that extent, I tilted my head inwardly.

　The choice of Ursula was very puzzling to me, as I had assumed that the Seirin bannermen accompanying her must be under the control of the Berch family. It's not as if Diarte hadn't noticed what I had noticed. I don't know what he's thinking.

　I silently looked at Dialto, but naturally, or perhaps not so naturally, the flag officer in front of me did not tell me his true intentions. All that was said was the obvious decision.


"Ursula Utgarza. Ursula Uthgarza, the tenth-ranked bannerman of the First Banner, is familiar with the interior of the Demon Gate. As I told you earlier, you will accompany him.


　Diarte's face showed no emotion. The expression on his face, like a Noh mask that does not allow for insight, reminds me somewhat of my father.

　No matter what kind of questions I ask this face, it will only be rebuffed by the iron-hard skin of the face. With that in mind, I simply nodded my head and said no more words.

　Seeing this, Diarte turned his gaze to Ursula and asked her shortly.


"Uthgarza is also good.

"Yes, sir.

"Very well. That's all I have to say, but Gilmore, the patriarch of Belch, has offered me this place as lodgings for the duration of your stay on the island. You are free to use this house as you wish. If there is anything you lack, I will have my landlord provide it.


　When he had finished, he gave us - or rather, me - a glance, stood up quietly, and left the room.

　As I listened to his footsteps moving away, I suddenly thought.

　In the end, I thought, Dialto didn't speak to my sister even once.




　After that, the three of us who remained in the room, me, Kreia, and Ursula, exchanged glances in silence.

　I thought it would be tactless to interfere in the reunion of friends, so I kept quiet, but Kreia seemed to be hesitant to open her mouth without me. Ursula, looking at us, seemed to be wondering what she should say.

　If we continue like this, we won't be able to make any progress. It was no use for the three of us to stay in this bastion of silence, so I scratched my cheek and opened my mouth.


It's been five, no, five and a half years. Long time no see, Ursula.


　Ursula heard my greeting and nodded with a somewhat relieved look on her face.


It's been a while, Sora. I'm sorry to bother you so soon, but can you tell me more about it? I've heard about it from the flag officers, and I've made some guesses of my own, but I want to hear what happened from the mouths of the people involved.


　The words that came out of Ursula's mouth were undeniably a bit crude for a woman of her age, but for me, they had the effect of dispelling the discomfort that I had been feeling for a while.

　Yes, this is it. This is what Ursula's tone of voice was like five years ago.

　Ursula raises her eyebrows suspiciously when she sees me clapping my hands.


"What's wrong?

No, you've changed your appearance completely. I was confused as to whether this person was really Ursula, but the way you said it made me think that I had finally found the face I had five years ago.


　Ursula's eyes blinked as if she had just heard something she had not expected.

　After a few moments, a wry smile appeared on her cherry-red lips.


I think it's natural for your appearance to change over the course of five years. And if you say you've changed, you've changed a lot, too, haven't you?　When I saw you next to Kreia, I was surprised at how much you've changed.

"Oh, really?　Well, I am aware that my physiognomy has become worse.




　Ursula smoothed her face and shook her head, "Not really.


It's not about your physiognomy, it's about how lively you look. Five years ago, you were always looking down. I think Ayaka would be happy to see you now.


　The first to react to Ursula's blunt statement was Kreia, who had been silently listening to our conversation until then.


"Ursula, that's ......!


　Kreia looked at me and Ursula alternately as if in a panic. She seemed to think that I would be offended by her bringing up my former ex-wife.

　Come to think of it, Kreia had never mentioned Ayaka's name until today. Perhaps Kreia was paying attention to me in her own way.

　To be honest, it was a needless concern. I wouldn't be upset if I heard Ayaka's name now.

　However, it was certainly not a pleasant topic to listen to, so I decided to move on.


I guess we've both changed. So how did this happen?


　I stopped speaking and looked around. Di'Art had said that I could use this place freely, but of course I had no intention of doing so.

　As mentioned above, there is a risk of eavesdropping, and there is also a risk that people will hear of my visit and come.

　I got Miken's permission on the condition that Ursula would be my companion. I think we should quickly pass through the gate.


Since we're not here, let's talk while facing the gate.


　Ursula and Kreia nodded simultaneously at his words.