It was moving like a passing rain. It was as if it was searingly sprinkling the monstrous rain from within the veil of the tree line.
　Something in the shape of a black snake was covering the heavens with a black shadow behind the fog.
　An eerie sound and a rain that had the effect of stirring up the magic power within the body.

　Loki held it down and endured it, holding back the struggling Alice.
　Even after the surrounding area had once again regained the cool early morning air, Loki was still breathing heavily on Alice's chest.

　The two of them were enduring the crushing magic - only to have it pass over their heads.

　Perhaps it was because of the larger body of Alice that was underneath, but Loki's body, which was limping on top of it, was bobbing up and down.
　It was as if his heart was directly grabbed and shaken, causing intense palpitations that even made him dizzy.

　Loki's body also swayed in tandem with the movement of Alice's chest. Loki, who laid his face down on his chest, finally opened his mouth weakly.

''Are you alright, Alice?''
'Huh, huh, huh ... yeah, somehow.'

　Alice's breathing, which manufactured an endless supply of white breath, was not so busy that she was hesitant to even speak.

　Since that black shadow had left, the morning sun was slowly clearing the fog, and even the babbling of the creek seemed to be reaching my ears. Even so, it would still take him a while to just catch his breath, let alone stand up right away.


　It was not until nearly ten minutes later that they regained their composure. They had to turn back to the cave they had been using as a resting place for a while.
　Unfortunately, he whipped his body, which felt heavy, and started to prepare himself. The reason Loki felt impatient was because this outside world was clearly not normal.
　A far different place than the outside world he had experienced many times on Alpha.
　With the sense of danger that the experience he had accumulated was not working, Loki felt the need to immediately join up with Ars and the others.

　While he initially thought that this place was also safe, he is even beginning to think that even that idea might actually be a mistake.

　Above all..........

　-- That thing surpasses all the demons we've seen so far.

　It's very difficult to put into words. It's not a simple threat due to the amount of magical power, it's not a simple threat due to the amount of magical power, I can understand it now that I've actually seen it and have it on my person.
　That's right, even though that demon is a demon, it's a bit different from the natural enemies of mankind that are so evil, it's a bit different.

　In other words, it's a complete form. Something that transcends as a living organism........not as a deformity, but as a living organism.
　Therefore, lumping them together with demons as before is something different.
　Loki clutched his left arm from the top of his robe as he thought about that. There was still no pain. There was no hindrance in moving it.
　But there was definitely something left there that told him that something was there.

'We're ready over here, Loki.
'Yes, we're organized here too. I'll take care of Al's stuff.
Are you okay?　Would you like me to hold it for you?
'No, it's not heavy, and we're mobile, so we're fine.

　Alice looks anxiously at Loki, who tells her once and for all. It wasn't because it was heavy or anything, but because she was concerned about that left arm.
　After that one incident, she washed off Loki's bloody arm once when she returned.

　There was indeed a shallow, fine wound there. However, that wound alone wasn't enough to stain her arm, and there was no way it could shed much blood. However, Loki's arm was currently covered by a scab-like clot of blood.
　However, that wasn't the point of the problem.
　As he was washing it off, it was clearly visible on the skin of that slender arm.

　A black pattern that would never resemble the white, fine-grained skin.
　The look on Loki's face when she saw it was both astonished and curious, as if she had reasoned with the sequence of events. It was as if she must have been able to predict what it was.

　But Alice had been told by Loki not to tell anyone about it, or so she had been told. Alice had no choice but to nod in the first place at the unjustified situation, but worry was a worry. Because the pattern was like a certain letter.
　A magician would definitely see it. Yes, the shape was somewhat reminiscent of a [Lost Letter (Lost Spell)].



　After that, the two of them walked up the creek towards the upper reaches of the creek, Loki carefully exercising his detection magic along the way.
　Originally, Ars and Loki had concluded that no demons would come near this creek area, but even so, her footsteps could not help but be called cautious.

　If she wanted to run, the foothold would be a little unstable, but it shouldn't be a problem. Alice had recovered to that extent as well. Even though the magic in her body was stirred up, it was because she was touched by the rain. Looking back on it now, it was almost like tasting a condensed, short-term cold. Speaking of more than that, I don't really remember much of it. I just suffer, and the power to resist it is closer to instinctive than conscious, and I even feel like there is no way to resist it.

　And Alice sighed a small sigh as she walked behind Loki.
　It was also because she suddenly smelled something sour. She hadn't been able to wash herself since last night, and that was on top of what had just happened. His whole body was as gloomy as fresh laundry.
　Maybe it's the same for Loki walking in front of me, but I don't seem to be able to smell that from her.

　--Uh~ I don't know how wet I am anymore, oh how wet I am somewhere.

　It felt like a cool air was constantly clinging to my entire body. It's true that I sweated unbelievably hard, even for myself.
　I was beginning to regret now that I hadn't been able to say strongly that I wanted to shed some of my body.

　The river flowing comfortably next to her was an object of resentment for Alice. It's a blessing that she doesn't mind the low water temperature, but she is grateful for it now.
　You'll be able to find a lot more than just a few of them.

　When I checked my condition, I asked Loki if he could wash his arms clean again and not wash off his body as well, but he dared to surrender to the answer that he would at least wait until he found Ars and the others.
　The voice sounded to Alice as if she didn't want to be able to look at her arms again.

　Before she knew it, Alice had moved next to Loki.
　This didn't mean anything to her, but after all, there was no end to the questions she had earlier.

'What was that rain all about?　Have you seen Loki?　The ground wasn't wet at all.
I can't explain it in detail, but I'm pretty sure it's not a natural phenomenon. In the outer world, there is a strange rain that falls very rarely, called monstrous rain. Most of it is said to be the effect of the magic power of demons, or the effect of the vast amount of magic residue. However, this time it's probably the work of that demon.
You know what?

　Alice, who immediately asked back, had no idea of the identity of the demon that Loki indicated. As it should be, there was no way Alice could afford to do that under that situation.

'I'll say it again when I meet up with Al, but there's no doubt that there was a demon nearby. It's my fault, but honestly, if they had found me, I would have died.
But I didn't find it.

　Without a pause, Alice gives a small smile to Loki and says casually, "It's not anyone's fault, but my own.

It's not anyone's fault, but I'm at least prepared to do that. I was surprised, though.

　Even though she was healthy and strong, Alice was able to predict what kind of level of magic pressure by a third party. She didn't need to compare it to the B-rate she fought yesterday, and even if she knew that, Loki's dialogue was merely a fact.

　Alice's first experience of the enormous rush of magical power. It probably made her feel that it could kill humanity. The quality and quantity of magic power is different from the magic power felt in the survival zone in which he lived. More to the point, the amount of magical power is much greater than the human body could ever reach.

　The difference between their vessels as living things. It's like a difference in the weapons you can carry. I'm sure you'll be able to see that the magic we possess and the magic we assemble is like a water cannon.
The golden spear carried on Alice's back also felt a bit unreliable now. No, that would be common not only to Alice, but to all those who go to the place called the outer world. It's a good thing that Alice also has something close to Loki's feelings, which she dared not say out loud.

　But then Alice looked at the strangely clear blue sky in the distance. It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of the people who are considered the greatest treasure of humanity, and he or she who reigns supreme.
　The most important thing is that the heart that was already on the verge of succumbing began to look forward as if it had been roused just by thinking of his face.

　--I don't have enough yet. I have a long way to go, but I don't have enough heart, experience and everything else, but....

　Still, I can't give up. The reason is because Alice's heart is not completely broken. Maybe that death-inspired training has made her more tolerant.

　Next to Alice was Loki, who had a mushy face and was having trouble answering her. She was about to open her mouth when Alice suddenly burst into a giggle.

'How can you laugh at me, even though you've been dying?
Yeah, I'm sorry. Maybe it's a result of my training with Al, maybe?

　Even though it was his first time, the feeling of crossing the death line was still due to Ars's cold and ruthless training right before. The recovery of the mind is unexpectedly quick, or perhaps it is because that death eye was so unconscious.

　Perhaps if I had been alone, I would not have been able to even walk like this, and I would still be in that cave with my knees in my arms.

''Maybe neither Al nor I had any idea about what was going on this time. But--
It's the outside world, isn't it?

　Understandable style, not the expected words, Alice took over instead.
　While being wary of his surroundings, Loki only replied to such Alice with a somewhat dumbfounded "That's how it is". Of course, that's not a problem that can be cleared up by itself.

　After cutting off his words, Loki abruptly stops and begins to focus his consciousness.

''--!　There it was. It's further back in the assembly area in the event of a split.

　It would be in the vicinity of the third of the places I was considering for a meeting place.

'Really!
Yes, I can't detect Mr. Tesfia's magic for a moment, but I can clearly see Al's.

　The detection results made Alice feel uneasy, though.

'It's okay. Even though it can't be detected, it's unnatural for it to be constantly emitting magic power in the outside world. But if you are consciously holding back your magic power, or if you are sleeping, your magic power is relatively suppressed unconsciously. Or you're unconscious, though.
Fainting!
No, just in case.

　Of course, this includes cases where the person is already dead. However, it's not just a coincidence that a magician as good as Ars is releasing his magic power so clearly.
　I'm not going to be able to get my hands on any of them.

It's a good idea to hurry up a bit since the distance is farther than expected, Alice-san. There are some things that are bothering me.
Yeah. I can run.

　Along the creek they both ran dexterously on precarious footing. Although both Loki and Alice were mentally fatigued, they were able to recover enough physically.

　And every time the distance was reduced, Loki repeated his detailed detection. At the same time, it has been confirmed that there are few demons in the surroundings. But the exact location of the place where Ars is said to be, even if you come near it, is not easy to identify.
　It's a good idea to be able to have a good time with your friends and family.

　It was narrow and dimly lit. The scaffolding was paved with fragments of huge stones that had hit the ground, and if you fell, you would get scratches that looked like you had been cut by glass.
　So much sharp debris was scattered about.


　And after the two of them continued on through the maze-like gaps in the rock, the place they finally arrived at was a cave that was perfect for a hiding place. It was a small but natural resting place.
　The same robes as the two of them hung at its entrance to ward off the wind.

　Loki's complexion changed to a brighter one in an instant, and he vigorously put his hand on the robe in the divider.

'Al, what on earth happened last night--!

　It was dimly lit, but with the removal of the robes, the lighting illuminated the interior. Then Loki was stunned and lost for words.
　Wide open eyes confronted her with something she hadn't expected.

　There were two men and women wrapped in a single robe - Ars and Tesfia.
　A red-haired girl, curled up in a small body, sleeping as if she were snuggled up against Ars. Her shoulders were not supposed to be exposed and should have been wrapped in clothing, but now her white, shiny skin reflected the sunlight.

　And of course, Ars, who was sleeping next to her, was determined to be topless without needing to check. His legs, which weren't fully hidden by the robe, gave Loki a nasty imagination.
　There was no need to look around; the clothes hanging on the branches and protruding wall here revealed the state of the two sleeping men.
　Ars's trousers, jacket and other such items are now far away from his body, and I don't know if he meant to hide them well or not. And although I don't know if he meant to hide it well, a part of Tesfia's jacket, probably her underwear, was peeking out from inside her jacket.

　Shortly after, Alice will also appear to peer inside.
　And "Huh? He sounded as if his thoughts had short-circuited. Alice wasn't the only one who couldn't sort out the situation, and even more than Alice, Loki fell to his knees with his mouth crunching.

'Hmm, what?　Is it morning already? Right after Tesfia was about to get up, squinting in the sunlight.

''Nah, well, no way, you're making a baby!

　Loki's mournful cry echoed inside the narrow cave.