We are moving forward in a formation that is neither too large nor too spread out. It's not a situation that can be managed now by talking about cooperation.

　Letty and the others were running in a straight line towards the huge crater where the black lightning is said to have fallen. The leaning trees, the roots that had been buried in the ground because of it, were rising up to block their progress. It was only in the forest, which was originally a beastly road, and if they were not good at it, they would get lost and would not even know the direction of the road.
　Letty and her teammates run not only on the ground but also by jumping over tree branches and the like, so they don't have to go around every single huge tree or fallen tree. Straight ahead, as the word implied, meant straight ahead.

''When you talk about different abilities, do you mean the equivalent of Linne-san's magic eye?''
I don't know. It's not necessarily the magical eye. There are other abilities in this world that are called different abilities besides the Devil's Eye, so I can't tell you that much...

　Letty asked, with her eyes turned straight ahead. It reminds me of a groping for a solution.
　However, Linne has this answer. To be precise, it's a technique to stop Ars, but it's one of the means that's not in the realm of possibility. As far as I've confirmed with my magic eye, I doubt it's even possible.

(The control of the magic eye is ultimately dependent on mental power.

　I know this because it's Linne. It's called heterotopia, and controlling powers, especially those that are against your will, is not something that can be controlled by ordinary mental powers. That's why it's nearly impossible to keep it under control once it's out of your hands.
　Ars's power must have grown far beyond the degree of control.

　I don't know if it can be resolved by external factors, but if you have consciousness, you might be able to bring it under control again, even if it's a near impossible possibility.
　At the same time, I'm overwhelmed with anxiety.

(Maybe that's why Master Ars was interested in my eyes.)

　It was concerned about the possibility of this happening and wanted a clue to prevent it from going out of control.
　If he thought of it that way, then Ars himself didn't have an effective way to deal with the different abilities that had gone out of control.

　Rinne didn't think he was being rational when he was relied on by the squad members' determination, even after all this time. He hadn't been thinking calmly.
　He must have been carried away by the atmosphere of the place.
　I don't regret it, but if I told my master, Cicerunia, about this, I'm sure he would make fun of me. I can see him smiling at me, saying something like, 'You've gotten pretty hot and bothered.
　Now I frowned at myself for being happy and expecting even that. This makes me feel like I want to be bullied.
　I'm sure I'll never show that I've been made fun of, but I'm sure I'll argue inwardly that it's regrettable. Maybe he would say it out loud. He would be sure to come up with some kind of reason.
　In order to confirm this, Rinne monologued, "I have to get out alive after all.

''It will all depend on Arus-sama... if we can get there...''
Right. But no movement yet?　At first he seemed to move quickly.
'No, I mean that it could have happened. I'm convinced that Lord Ars is conscious because there is no movement which means that I believe he is resisting the xenomorphs that are supposed to have left his control, even a little bit. Therefore, the xenomorph is motionless,
I see... that means we still have a chance.

　Lynne nodded with a coy smile.
　That proves that it's not all for nothing. If you're resisting, believe that there is a way to break through.
　That's why it's frustrating that we can't come up with anything in the current situation.
　Maybe we'll end up abandoning them. We have no choice but to make them have a strong will to resist.
　The only way to do that is to expose himself in front of Ars. Rinne, who half-understands that such a gamble is the only thing that can be done, grits her teeth at her own ignorance.

　Then, as if she had found something, Linnea suddenly stopped in her tracks.

''Wait, wait a minute--''

　With that, a magical formula appeared in Provillebens' eyes. It had only passed through several glimpses of his vision while he was running, but it was impossible to miss it.
　Because it was clearly a human. And if I remember correctly.....

'Someone's heading for the crater. There's one person in number.......but why is she.......


　♢♢

　Immediately after the [Violent Predator (Gla Eater)] that contained an enormous amount of magical power made a huge pool float up in the sky and flew out of it like a bullet, Ars resisted as he poured all of his energy into it.
　Thanks to that, the progress stopped slightly.
　If Letty and the others escaped during this gap, it would be more than enough of an achievement. It's because we can successfully defeat them and minimize the damage caused by the unexpected situation.

''Hahahaha............Kuh!

　I bite off my lip and endure the distant awareness of being occupied. The taste of iron flowing into your mouth makes your eyebrows twitch.
　There is no sensation below your knees, and your left arm is unresponsive as if it were wriggling. It's as if a weight were hanging off of it.
　I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to find a way to make it work.

　The body that is becoming thin and cold in the sight that is being snatched away. The blood pooling on the ground is so warm that I want to bury my face in it.......
　If I loosen up even for a moment........no, I don't even know if I can last one more minute.
　It was at that moment - I saw someone leaping out of the far edge.
　They leapt from the edge in one go and came inside. And a small figure coming towards us.

　Ars remembers who it is just by the glittering, sun-reflecting hair. Then he glared at me with a snap.
　There's no way I could mistake it for anything else. I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to get the most out of this one.
　But it's more obvious from the silver hair of the person coming towards you.
　I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this as well.

'Why are you here, Loki!

　
　Loki's face, which stopped with a cloud of dust, was covered in water droplets and his clothes were damp. Most importantly, the bandages on his legs were stained red, as if he had sucked blood.

''A, Ars-sama.......this is.......!　You're hurt--someone who needs to be treated right away...

　Loki, who was about to take a step forward in a horrified manner, was stopped by Ars with clear hostility.

'I told you not to come. You mean you disobeyed my instructions!

　Since the mission was already completed, there was no threat........except for Ars.
　So they had to get Loki away from them as soon as possible. However, Loki takes a step forward and steps nimbly with a good cause. Each time he did so, his face was twisted, but he wasn't afraid of things.

''I have never failed to follow Ars-sama's words. I believe it is the right thing to do. Therefore, I came ... a promise is a promise, and the Second Magic Academy won the championship. You promised not to interfere in regards to the companionship, didn't you, Ars-sama?

　He even said that there were no two words.
　But, but ------ He interrupted Ars's departure to open his mouth.

You haven't said when it will be applied. Therefore, it means it is effective from the time the winner is decided.

　Isn't this what it's like to not be able to say a single word? No, I don't even have time to think about it, anyway........

　He was stopped with countless legs sprouting from a sphere in the sky above, but with Loki's arrival, the tip was right below........Ars felt the target heading towards Loki with his senses, and his impatience increased.
　If he lets his mind wander for a moment, he will be swallowed up in the blink of an eye. Words of resignation were spat out as he tensed up. To evacuate Loki.

'This is my power, but it's out of my control now. Whether it's you or not, you're a target. So get out of here now. I'll buy you that much time.
Well....

　Loki opened a pause as if he was recalling something. He said that it was this power that made [Naruikazuchi] disappear during the test to become a partner.

''I understand. So what will happen to Arus-sama?　

　I thought that was astute, but Ars can't lie.
　That's because he knows why Loki came to be Ars's partner. He must be throwing his life away.
　The reason why I didn't say anything about it before is because I thought it would change in the process of growing up, and perhaps because I couldn't overlook the use of such a life. He would think it was for his own good, for someone else's sake.

'Perhaps, but you're not too far off from me. That is, if you don't absorb any more of it. With the body here, we're at the limit of our capacity. After that, well it'll probably eat me.
...

　A shiver runs down Loki's spine. Even though I was expecting this, it's completely different to hear it in words.
　But at the same time, an unwavering resolve was born.

''Is there anything I can do?''
No!　Get out of here now!　You don't have to stay with me just because you were saved once. I don't need to feel indebted to you.
..........!

　Those words were the moment when the thoughts flooding inside Loki were released from their cage.

'You remembered...'

　The emotions that were bubbling up, the thoughts that were heartbreaking. A thought that filled me with so much joy that I wanted to hug him right now.
　I wasn't very good at showing my emotions, and I was even worse at making facial expressions, but I could smile naturally now.

'I didn't choose you as my partner to kill you,'
Yes, I know.
(Because that's what Lord Arus is.)

　Loki begins to walk slowly, stomping away.
　Ars continues to glare at his hesitant steps, with the thought of not getting any closer.

'Loki, you're brilliant. You're also talented... so...''
I'm sure you know that, Lord Arus. I'm not like you, Lord Ars, and I don't have the same sanctimonious intentions of serving mankind. The world with Lord Arus is my world. It would be a lie to say I don't feel any gratitude for him. But the truth is, it has nothing to do with it. So it's my choice to be here!　Because I need Master Ars to be me.

　Smiling serenely, Loki put his hand on his chest and assured him to feel it.

'You've got to be kidding me!　..........!　SHIT!!!

　The fury became a momentary slack and the Gura Eater instantly targeted Loki. He ran several spikes to encircle the dusky spikes of magic power that were heading towards him.
　And then Ars controlled it forcefully again - the spikes of magic power stalled where it pierced the ground as it pulsed with a bikun.
　There was no sign of Loki afterwards. Arus also had it firmly in his eyes.

　Loki rolled over to leap into the ground far enough to touch it if he reached out gingerly with a cloud of dirt and smoke.
　He knows this magic, but of course he can't run on those legs.

''Force!
I never thought I'd be unveiling it here, but.... I don't think I can move anymore.

　Loki, who was laying limp and facing you, was breathing heavily, as if he was out of breath. It's a smile with an unyielding resolve that makes you think that nothing can be said about her anymore. That speed, the bandage that had come off his knee as he fell over was so red that he couldn't suck blood any more.


Yes, I will accompany you wherever you go. If you are going to die, Master Ars, I would not want to see the world without him for a moment.
..........

　He could be about to die, but instead of tears, he could turn his face to me as if he was filled.
　It was the first time I had ever seen such an expression on Loki's face. And moreover, it's different from any wizard's dying face I've ever seen.
　A face that was natural and expressed his heart as it was.
　While Ars could not help but think it was beautiful, it was also annoying.

'Who would give up!

　I was angry at myself for almost giving up on it. You're accepting death when you're not even struggling. Even more so when it's your own fault.

"You and I are not going to die. You're not going to die!　Loki, when I get back, I'm going to have you act with a little more thought.
Yes.....

　I had hoped it would be just me, but now it was another life in my hands. How heavy the weight of the pressure on my shoulders. I even sigh. Two lives, there was no way I could choose an easy way to die.

''It doesn't look like it's going to be an easy death.........d*mn it!

　Ars looked up directly above. A buzzing, fattening magic.
　Then he lowered his hips to the ground and threw his legs out. One leg got up on its knees and snickered, "You've never been injured so far. Is it because of the numbness of the pain?
　There is no way that Ars, who wears such a flaccid air, can be nervous about control, and the stagnant Gla Eaters extend hundreds of tentacles from the edge of the edge, as if they were pitching a tent. They attacked from all directions, and their mouths gaped open as if they were taking advantage of it.
　I don't even know if they're already aiming at Loki, but they'll definitely both fall for the poisonous fangs.

　In a fluid motion, Ars's arms lifted and thrust forward to open his hands.

'That's it!'

　It is so heavy that it resounds in the gut and does not hold any objection or objection at all. Words of absolute obedience that remind me of such an oracle.
　The tentacles of magic power, which are so ridiculous to count, stopped time at a position where it drew a small circle around Arus and Loki.
　Like an inverted scale, Ars commands. Instead of a sense, it was clad in a composition that was like a dialogue, an intimidation that made them obey.