The moment the door to the room was closed with a clatter, the previously petrified body was freed, as if it had been freed from a spell.

　Lunamaria held her arms in her arms as if to hug her body.

　Her body still trembled and trembled.

　Ilaria, who noticed Lunamaria's condition, ran up to her in surprise and said something to her, but her voice trembled in Lunamaria's ears, but did not reach her brain.

　Perhaps realizing this, Ilaria attempted to use the miracle of "Fukatsu" to restore her energy, but Ilaria's magic power was not enough to make Lunamaria regain her composure.



　However, this was not Ilia's fault. Even if the person who used the miracle was the High Priest of the Temple of Law, it would have been impossible to exorcise Lunamaria's current fears.

　A single question occupied the mind of Lunamaria, which raged like a stormy sea.



　Who was that young man who had just walked out of the room - who the hell was he?



　Of course, I know that the young man's name is Sora. We're estranged now, but we were once friends who had adventures together. I also remember the foods he liked and disliked.

　I also know that the name "Sora" is actually "Sora". He told me with a laugh before that in the Canary Kingdom, the language of the Ad Astera Empire, especially the Eastern script, was unfamiliar to him, so he registered the guild as 'Sora' to make it easier to understand.

　Lunamaria often teamed up with Sola because of the composition of the party.

　The combination of Lars, Iria and Milo was ironclad, so when they were split into two groups, for example, she would inevitably team up with Sora.

　Besides, the two of them often did the preparation before the adventure and the cleanup after the adventure. That's why I knew Sora better than the other members.



　But ... but I don't know her like that. I don't know that kind of power.

　The Sora in the eyes of Lunamaria, the spirit user, did not have a human form.

　Dark, dense, bottomless darkness. A deformed shadow that the spirits could not approach.

　Something fierce, mighty and desperate.

　Just looking at it made my legs wobble. My body trembled just by being watched. If Sora had been in the mood for it, those who were there would have been killed without being able to resist - a figure that made me feel the "power" to be sure of that.

　In Lunamaria's knowledge, there is only one kind of being that corresponds to that giant shadow.


''.................Dragon.


　Seven days ago, when they had exchanged words in the forest of Titis, he hadn't seen a shadow like that.

　What had happened to Sora in just seven days? No, was that really Sora in the first place?

　Has some nasty demon borrowed Sora's form and entered the city? Such a question even crossed her mind.



　The voice of an irritated Lars jumped into Lunamaria's ears.


Master. I'm sure he refused the master's mediation. I'm sure that this time there will be no repercussions, right?

'It's not going to happen that way, Lars. That's it, that's it, this is it.

...What?

Don't ever think that we were right about this. ─ Don't think that we were right to do this; what you did was unforgivable. The use of magic to attack other people and blame them for their demons is, as Sora said, murder.

'No, no, but the Master was just...'

'I defended you guys because Sola's actions were detrimental to the stability of the guild. It wasn't because I allowed you guys to be reasonable. Don't get me wrong about that.


　The first-class adventurer sharply looked at Lars and nailed him.

　As if pushed by its power, Lars took a half-step backwards and then gave a small nod.


''Good. So, Liddell-kun.

Yes, Master.

'When I was talking to you, did Sola tell you anything about the time she was held by the Lord of the Flies?　I read Mr. Parfait's report, which I interviewed, but it only says three things: I don't know, I don't know, and I don't remember.

No, he didn't say anything like that.

''I see. It was unnatural for a level one tenth level adventurer, or rather a former adventurer, to come back alive from the Lord of the Flies' nest in the Titis Forest, probably in the depths, no matter how you think about it. It would be extremely difficult for him to escape from the Lord of the Flies' paralyzing poison to escape from his lair, but on top of that, it would be impossible for him to return to the city, overcoming the magical beasts of the forest that were attracted to him by the smell of blood.


　Recalling Sora's words earlier, Elgato chuckles faintly.

　Apparently, the Guildmaster wasn't too angry with Sora.

　Be that as it may, the answer to Elgato's question was obvious to Lunamaria.

　No matter how much of a demonic beast it was, or even more so because it was a demonic beast, there was no way she would challenge Sora now. Not to mention, what effect would a paralyzing poison have?

　The current Sora is a dragon. It's an illusory species.




　

　Of course, she couldn't talk about such things.

　It's all speculation on Lunamaria's part. The only basis for it was one thing: "Sora's appearance looked like a dragon.

　I've never heard of a person possessing the power of an illusory species, not even in the College of Wise Men. The books I've studied so far have never written about it.

　Come to think of it, the only person who was scared of Sora was Lunamaria, and Lars and the others didn't seem to notice at all, and so did the guild master and receptionist.

　In this case, they would be advised to rest when they uttered the opinion that Sora was a dragon.

　Thinking that, Lunamaria dropped her gaze to the floor, and it was only there that she noticed the dull, glowing gold coins on the floor....



◆ ◆ ◆






　What to do with the chase. What shall I call out to him?

　I didn't have any concrete ideas about what I should do. But, if I had to, I would say I wanted to make sure.

　I'm not sure if what I saw in that room was the product of an illusion or not.　


''Well, here....I'll give it back to you.


　A clear sound, chirping, echoing from the small drawstring bag I held out to her.

　Hearing this, Sora blinks her eyes in surprise.


''What, did you come all the way here to deliver it?''

Yes. And I'm here to apologize for what happened earlier.


　As soon as she said it, Lunamaria hung her head deeply.

　In response to her movements, the elf's golden hair, reminiscent of moonlight, cascaded down from her shoulders like a waterfall.


'I am sorry for the harm I have done to you and for abandoning you...'


　The streets of Ishka are busy today.

　In the middle of that traffic, an eye-catching elf bows his head deeply. It is unavoidably attracts the attention of those around it.

　If it was the usual Lunamaria, she would have paid a little more attention to her surroundings, and even if she were to apologize, she would surely have chosen a place.



　But at this time, she didn't have time to think that far.

　I hung my head as if something was rushing me. I had a feeling that if I didn't, I wouldn't be able to make it in time.

　Who or what would not be able to make it in time? I didn't know that, though.

　Then Sora saw Luna Maria and opened her mouth in displeasure.　　　


'I thank you for delivering the money. But an apology is unnecessary. Or rather, it's offensive.''

...What?

I'd rather not apologize in the beginning--I'd like to say that I was confused by the demons, but that's understandable, since I was attacked by the demons. If I were in the same position, I would have done the same thing. But then, why didn't you bow down at the table earlier?

It's not...


　I couldn't tell you that it was because I was frightened of you.

　Seeing Luna Maria like that, Sola curved her lips.


'Yeah, I can understand this too. Bowing down in that seat means that Miroslav admits his responsibility. You couldn't just bow before Lars and the others, could you?　You don't need to put a crack in your relationship with your buddies to get to know me. Well, that's okay. It's a natural decision. But if that's the case, why are you bowing now?

It's...

Hm. Just in case I forgive you, that's all right. Even if I don't forgive you, you'll get the immunity of 'I've apologized properly'. You don't compromise your relationship with the party, while satisfying your conscience. As expected of a wise man, you are very good at your job. But it's only unpleasant for those of us who have to deal with it. You can go ahead and do whatever you want with your apology that only satisfies you, Faker, by looking in the mirror.

My God, my God!


　The first thing to do is to try to deny it, but by that time Sola had quickly turned on her heel and was about to disappear into the hustle and bustle.

　When she was about to follow him, Sola looked back over her shoulder and took a glance at Lunamaria.


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


　The coldness of his gaze stopped him from stepping out.

　When Sora saw such a Lunamaria, she walked away without saying anything in particular.

　The elven spirit user could only stare at her back in amazement.