Shanatrice Twelfth has left Renowthread.

　He was a strange man, I think.
　He gave me the spellbook of the Third Curse almost unconditionally because things were the situation.
　He didn't hesitate to cover me in the fight against the Four Deadly Plagues with a loaded unique technique.
　For all his strong desire to investigate me as a forbidden spell user, he respected my own wishes more than enough.
　He didn't threaten me or force me to do anything (aside from the matter of me trying to silently collect my bodily fluids while I was asleep...).

　Shanatrice Twoelf is known as the 'Witch of Ruvel Argan'.
　That's what I've heard.
　I had also prepared myself to be a ruthless and cunning person.
　However, when I actually met him, he was a good person with a mischievous nature.

　When we parted, I asked him that question in a roundabout way, and Shana cowered.

It's only natural to try to impress someone who has something to offer you. On the other hand, there are many people in the Ruvelargan who don't like me, and I've had my fair share of people who have treated me coldly. Impressions and reputations vary to a great extent from person to person. What's important is the ability to see yourself objectively. This may be the ability you need most, surprisingly.

　Well what was Cecily talking about, like low self-esteem?

'I understand. I'll keep that in mind.

　That day, I headed to the north gate in the Renausfia family's carriage.
　In the carriage were me, Makina and Shana.
　I asked to go to the north gate to see Shana-san off.

　We arrived at the north gate.
　There was a carriage parked outside the gate that Shana-san had ridden in from Ruvelargan.

"I'm looking forward to your visit to the Rouwergan, Kurohiko,
If you ever visit the Ruvel Argan, please give me your best wishes.

　I may have to take care of her again with the matter of Currier-san's searchers.

'Then take care, Shana.
Yes, good luck to you.

　After exchanging words with Makina, Shana got into the carriage.

　And so the carriage with Shanatris Tuelf in it left the royal capital.

　　　　　　　　　　*

　Several days passed.

　The Royal Capital was regaining its appearance before the Four Deadly Disasters attacked.
　The Order of the Holy Tree has also calmed down enough for its members to get a good night's sleep.
　Speaking of finally, I heard that the date has been set for the ceremony to mourn the holy warriors who lost their lives in the battle against the four deadly attacks.
　Classes are about to resume at the school.

　There's nothing going on in my life.
　Yesterday, I rented the training grounds and had been given practice by Currier-san.
　Even though it is closed, you can use the facilities of the school itself if you apply for it.

　Training with Currier-san on the sword has been very fruitful.
　It will likely be some time before I catch up with her in sword skills.
　I still have a lot to learn from her.
　And I am happy about that.

　Cecily is also practicing and improving her skills day by day, but recently she has begun to focus on other areas of her life besides the sword.
　She said she is learning how to mix medicine from Lisa.
　However, I've heard that she's not getting enough sleep these days due to the fact that she's doing both the literary and military arts with a hundred and one strengths.
　That's why I told him the other day that I wanted him to get a good night's rest.
　The other day, I told him that he should take care of his physical condition as part of his training, as Currier said.

　If I were to talk about a person who has taken care of herself, it would be Ira-san.
　She not only manages her training methods, but also her diet and schedule as she works out on a daily basis.
　When asked for advice on the content of her training, Currier recently commented, "Ira's stuff, it could turn out great.
　According to Currier, he had already known that Ira had the makings of an excellent fighter by the time of the mock fight.　

　When I return home after training, Mia-san is usually at home waiting for me to return.
　She still takes care of all the household chores.
　When I try to offer to do some of the housework myself, Mia looks at me like she's sad to see me do it, so we've worked out a compromise: I'll do the housework with her when I can.

'Well, shall I do the dishes?'
Oh, it's all right, sir.　Please take your time, Kurohiko-sama. You must be tired from your training today, right?
I'm not tired, sir. Besides, I want to help you. Okay, I'll do the dishes.
Um...
Miss Mia, could you bring me the dishes you're washing up, please?
Well that's all right, I'm sorry. Well, it's all right, then ... please.

　At first she refuses, but if you push her a little too hard, Mia will accept it without a hitch.
　And once we start doing the housework together, Mia is happy to do it.

　So I guess we'll be doing this for a while.

　　　　　　　　　　*.

　One day after school.
　I went to the headmaster's office.

"Do you want to get out of King's Landing?

　The pen stopped moving and Makina-san looked up.
　Perhaps because she's been able to take a break lately, Makina-san's complexion has returned to a healthier color.

''Yes. It's not that I have anything in particular to do.

　When I saw Shana off the other day, I thought to myself.
　Since I came to this world, I've never been outside of the royal capital, come to think of it, I've never been outside of the capital.
　If I had to put into words why I wanted to go outside, it would be...somewhat.
　I told him honestly about it.

''Come to think of it, you've never been out of King's Landing before, have you?
So, I was wondering if you need to go through some sort of procedure to get out.
So that's why you came to me?
'The first person I think of who I should talk to in this kind of situation is Makina-san, so I thought it would be bad since I'm so busy, but...'

　Hmm, Makina-san makes a kind of good face.

''Yes, that's fine. Let's talk about that matter to the person at the west gate near the academy. Do you have a specific day you want to go outside?
Tomorrow?　It's going to be dark today, and it's raining.
All right. I'll let you guys talk through it.
And as always, thank you.
The danger is... well, as long as that hibigami doesn't attack us, we should be fine.

　I responded with a chuckle.

'Yes,'

　　　　　　　　　　*

　The next day was sunny and clear, like the rain clouds from yesterday were a lie.

　After breakfast, Mia and I left the house.
　After leaving Mia-san, I went to the West Gate.
　The West Gate was beyond the place where I had fallen when I was sent to this world.
　It's also where I first met Currier-san.

　After a short walk, the West Gate came into view.
　The story was coming through properly.
　I didn't need to talk to him, but he noticed me from the other side the moment he saw my eye patch.
　The gatekeeper let me through immediately.

　We went through the gate.
　Endless sky and clouds.
　The paved road continued on with a number of loose curves.
　If I continue west all the way, I'll be in the Duke of Sigmsos' territory.
　The villages and towns are said to be scattered between them.
　In the distance, you can see the forest.

　We walk along the path in a leisurely fashion, not in a hurry.
　It's almost a walk.
　The occasional gentle breeze carried the scent of lush vegetation on it.
　To our right, there was a lush grassland.
　The grasslands were once cut off by the solid wall that surrounded the capital.
　If we followed the wall, we would reach the north gate.

　I walked further until I was just out of sight of the gatekeepers.
　We left the paved path.
　I walked, stepping on the grass that rustled in the wind.
　At a suitable spot, I lay down on my back.
　The sound of the wind.
　The grass was swaying in the wind.

'If I only looked at the sky, it wouldn't be any different from the world before.

　I get up and sit there.
　I play with my bangs.

'Your hair, it's growing back.'

　And then.


　My vision changed drastically.


　The sky turns a hideous red.
　The hard, cold, jet-black earth conquers the entire surface.
　A black castle rises in front of me.

　I know this scenery.

It's been a long time.

　Ahead of your eyes.
　The black coffin that stands still.
　The red eyes peeking out of the hole.

"Yo, hero.

　Forbidden King.

'This is the second time I've been here but I have a feeling I've met you somewhere else. Very dark, in the dark.
I've seen him. Not in a dream.
She had some kind of spell wrapped around her body.
Protective da.
Protection?
"To avoid being eaten by the Forbidden Beast.
Forbidden beast... that's...
"The one you call 'The Beast.'

　The sensation that crawls up to you when you use a forbidden spell - 'The Beast'.

'In that darkness, bound by black chains...'
"The beast with the forbidden beast, the Zuarivinel.
Zuari, Vinel.
The battle with the Noyes-Deez the Forbidden Beast did not respond to your call to arms, did it?

　When my body didn't move, I was trying to call in the 'beast' - the forbidden beast.
　But I didn't even feel a sign of it.

"You've been using the forbidden curse for too long in your fight against the four evil spirits. In addition, you're too exhausted to stay conscious. The forbidden beasts have been trying to get you in their sights. So I used the Ninth Curse to bind the forbidden beast in your mind and restrain it... but it is still under the Ninth Curse.
Wait. You once said that this place is like a spiritual world or a dream. Is this a different place than that place in the dark?
This is the world between us, the only place where God and man can meet, if you will. "This is the world between God and man, the only place where God and man can meet.
You mean I'm astral projection now, right?
That expression in your world is not wrong.

　It's like, "Only the spirit is called here.

I am half God, I am a man, and I am also a God. That is to say, I am a special being. I am half God and half God, that's why I'm still alive.

　Half-blood.

Well, that can wait. First, let's talk about why. The reason why I brought you here is to tell you why I sent you to this world.

　I didn't understand for a few seconds.

'What?'

　I was sent to this world for a reason, right?

I'll tell you about my relationship with the Forbidden Beast.
Why is this so important, all of a sudden?
After seeing your battles with the Four Deadly Disasters and the Noyes-Dees, I have decided that I must tell you a story. In other words, I will side with you completely. Well that is to say, I have my own reasons for doing so. It won't take long. Will you join me?
But don't you think we're going to get in the way, like before?

　When the forbidden king had tried to say much before, a spear that flew in unexpectedly pierced the coffin, and finally, a huge fist smashed the coffin.
　If he fell for the usual prohibition, he would be interrupted again.

''Don't worry about that anymore.
Is that so?
They will be silenced.
You shut him up?
"Saint Renowthred and God of War, Ruvel Arganha, my forcefulness will be silenced.

　Huh?

The Holy Goddess of Renowthred and the God of War, Ruvelargan!

　Both of these divine names are so much a part of the country's name in Midzberia.
　These goddesses were also featured in the myth of the Forbidden King.
　................
　It seems very strange.
　I usually hear those two names as the name of the country, and I've heard them many times.

"I'm a coward, too," he said. "I'm a coward too," he said, "but I didn't tell you the connection between me and the forbidden beasts, and I've been a bystander for most of my life. But now I am ready to face the consequences.

　Once, the red eyes in the coffin closed.
　I swallowed a spit.

"Speak. I'm going to tell you why Renou and Lube have brought you into the world. And...

　His red eyes widen.

"The Cursed King and the Cursed Beast have a cursed relationship.