Hmm. So you'll need my help for now, won't you?
Yeah. See you later, Marie.

　Rafe's guy bows his head and so do I and Fee. Then Marie smiles at me.

'Hahahahahaha!　You need my help?
Of course.
Do you think I need your help, Marie?
Of course.
'Good!　Good!　Okay, good!　Let's help you capture the labyrinth again!
Thank you, Marie.

　It seems like Rafe is manipulating Marie, but well I guess it's called the unspoken word.

''So you can go back to the transition again?''

　I asked if I could get back by the means I came here. Of course, it was a question that I expected to be able to get back to, but the answer I got was the worst I could think of. But the answer I got was the worst I could think of.

'Huh?　That was a one-way street.
""What?"

　The voices of the three of us overlap. Does that mean........we need to get back from this far eastern forest the normal way?　I could use my transference but it's hard for all four of us together. Isn't this ... bad?

Travelling is companionship, the world is kindness. A trip for the four of us could be a good idea!　Gahahahaha!
".........

　Me, Rafe, and Fee look down in silence. That's right. That's what Marie is like. I had to have a firm grasp on that. Yes, this is a natural thing ... and it's inevitable.

'Well, it can't be helped. Let's walk down to the south and take a boat from where we'll cross the ocean.

　I suggest that, and everyone nods their heads.

'Gahaha!　Traveling with the four of us is what makes my heart skip a beat!

　Marie was the only one who looked strangely happy, but the three of us couldn't help but have a bad feeling about it. We each looked at each other with such an expression on our faces.


　◇


'Oh no, the air is good!　It's been a long time since we've had an adventure.
What about in the Third Maze?


　Right now, me and Marie are in the back, with Rafe and Fee walking in front of us. The composition is somehow like this, but I don't mind talking to Marie, so it's just the right time to do it.

'I didn't have time to enjoy it at the time. I didn't have time to enjoy myself then, and I was just going through the motions. But now it's different. I've decided from the start that I'm going to enjoy it, and I will!　Ga-ha-ha-ha!
Yeah?
So what do you think?
You mean the labyrinth?
"Hmm. The labyrinth is a kind of lost technology. There's no doubt about that. But why was the labyrinth created?　That's definitely artificial, too. I'd like to hear Elle's opinion.
"...something to do with magic. A control device or is the labyrinth a shelter from something?　But there's still a lot of mystery about the Chimera, too.
A human and a spider chimera.... What a terrible thing to make!
'It's a possible technology in theory. But it's not yet possible with alchemy. There are too many factors to go over to cross the human genetic sequence with the spider one. And if we're talking about chimeras, we'd have to go beyond Maxwell's demons.
Hmm. That's true. We can't do it with alchemy yet. But I think that magic... can do it.
'And Marie hasn't gotten the gist of the magic yet?'
I still don't understand it. There is no doubt that the magic is mediated through the Akashic Materiae, the Zero Quality, but even I don't understand it.
...magic. Why is there such a thing as alchemy and magic...


　As he speaks, Marie's guy runs off laughing.


''Hahahahahaha!　O Elle, you, too, dedicate yourself to the search for truth!　Ga-ha-ha!


　Marie runs straight out into the woods, and Rafe's guy chases after her impatiently. Seeing this, Fee's guy drops back towards me.


'Elle, are you okay?'
What?
'Aren't you tired of being here?　And it hasn't been that long since that thing happened...
''There are things that are still on my mind. There are things I haven't been able to separate. Still, I've decided to move on.
So....


　The two of us continue on through the forest. Fortunately, I have an idea of where Marie and Rafe are, so there's no need to be in such a hurry. It's also a good time to talk to Fee slowly like this.

''Is it okay with you, Fee? ''Is it okay for you to come here?''
You're telling me that now?　I'm already prepared for that. Besides, I'm used to going along with Elle's recklessness.
It's been a few years since I met Fee. I gave you a hard time in the beginning.
'Yes!　I know how hard it was for me!　But well that was a great experience too.
Really?
Well, yeah. And there's no honor in conquering a labyrinth.
Honor....
'Elle doesn't seem to mind me saying that but...'
I'm just here for the fun of it.
'Flow..... I'm like that too, and I can't speak for others but it's good for someone else.
I hope so.

　When I looked at the sky, I saw that there was a clear blue sky everywhere. If we pass through this forest, we will reach the southern city. From there, we can take a boat back to the western continent and return to the fifth labyrinth. I know how it goes. With the four of us, we can make it. But what will we see after we capture the labyrinth? I'm sure that something as horrific as that labyrinth might be waiting for us again.

　Still, I had no choice but to keep going. There is no way to go back.