Ten years have passed since the day I found out my 【Position (Job)】.

　My party has risen to the fourth place in the world rank, and with the aim of improving our rank further - we decide to challenge the Demon King's Castle.
　Reme's party, ranked fourth in the world, has broken through the first layer.

"What's the matter with you, Leme, you don't look happy, do you?

　The same party's [Warrior] Alba says such things.

　He's a young man with a rough atmosphere, with short ashen hair and a sharp gaze. Apart from the long sleeveless jacket, he wears a breastplate to protect his heart.
　The upper half of his well-trained body is unsparingly exposed, and if it can be said that the light clothing is typical of a [warrior] whose lightness is his specialty, then so be it.

　He's a synchronization of the training institution (school).

　As a countryman who was a [Flame Brave] contracted with the main body of the four great spirits, I, to put it mildly, was not liked by everyone else. I was either looked at from afar, or approached with an apparent plot, or blatantly disliked by the other 【Brave Men】.

　In the midst of all this, Alba proudly challenged me to a fight.
　When the fight was over, he said, "You're so strong!　Hey, let's have a party! He laughed.

　When I told him I was going for first place, he said, "Of course you are!　If we're going to do this, we've got to go for the top spot! I said.
　The truth is, few people can think like Alba.

　Even if they say they want to be number one with their mouths, sometimes what those who know the current state of the industry are aiming for is survival. Most of them think that they should be able to make a living as an adventurer.
　There were even a few who were only attending because their 【Position (Job)] was combat-related and had little interest in it.

　In such a situation, he was in the minority who seriously challenged me to win against the [Flame Brave] or said that it was natural to aim for first place.
　He was very likeable, a comrade.

　He was notoriously foul-mouthed, but we decided to have a party.
　After graduating, we gathered three new friends to make our debut.

'Hmm, no, it's okay,'

　It was customary for our party to launch after a dungeon attack.
　We sat around a round table in a noisy tavern.

'Come on, leader. We've only just cleared one layer of the dungeon.

I know.

　The first level of the Demon King's Castle is the realm of the guard dogs.
　A pack of 【Black Demon Dogs】 appears in the wilderness field.
　The rare demon is 【Invisible Slaughterer】Grasshara Ballas.
　The floor boss is [Hell's Watchdog] Naberius.

　The invisibility ability by the Grasshara Ballas was troublesome, but it didn't mean that the magical reaction would disappear.
　He burned it off appropriately, and 【Hunter】Lily also shot through it with her sharpened senses.

　After defeating the Grasshara Brass, he wiped out with Alba's 'Extending Magic Sword'.
　【Holy Knight】 Lark was also stable today, and the newcomer, [Ice Hero] Beulah, was also in good shape.

''If I wanted to, I'd like to give the rookies a bit of a chance to play an active role as well.

　It was Beulah who muttered that.

　She is a girl with long, bluish white hair, icy eyes, and a contrasting white and black outfit that gives an overall impression of fragility. She is only thirteen years old and has just graduated from school.
　Her holy sword is of the rapier type.

　She's a new member who was welcomed in after one of the members left the party not long ago, saying she was going back to her hometown.

''Haha, I see. Then I'll have Beulah play an active role in the next one.

　In order for the audience to accept a newcomer named Beulah, they need to get to know her.

"Beulah, you've got to be more aggressive. "Be more aggressive, Beulah, be more assertive and try to beat the enemy to the punch before we do.

''........Alba-senpai's magic sword was in the way, and if I tried to freeze it poorly, not only would it involve the demon, but the extended magic sword as well.

What?

Stop staring at me, Alba.

It's not your business, twinkletoed elf.

　Alba and Lily don't get along very well with each other.
　And yet, their cooperation is strong, so I didn't see it as a problem.

''Another incomprehensible adjective........ Anyway, Beulah has a point. I understand that we are still getting used to the new system, but we have to make sure that we understand Bera's strengths before we fight.

Tsk. I'm having a blast.

　Lark is alone with his food in a daze, bringing it to his mouth.
　Rarely does he actively participate in a conversation. He responds when spoken to, though he doesn't seem to be averse to talking.

'Speaking of which, Leader,'

Yes, Beulah?

'Well I'm sorry if I'm mistaken, but have you not been feeling well today?'

What makes you think that?

No, I mean ... it looked like it would be hard to fight. I'm sorry, some new guy....

'No, it's okay. You should say what you think, and I think it's a healthy party when you can do that.

So... what is it really like?

It's all right. I'm just...

Just...?

''Yeah, Beulah's right, I'm feeling the pain of the fight. That's how high the level of demons in the Demon King's Castle is, I guess.

...Oh, I see.

　It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't all in my heart either.

　When I was about to defeat the [Black Demon Dog], I felt a strange sight come over me.
　Like I had touched them and fought with them.

　I felt it when I was with Grasshara Bolas, and I also had a vision of myself chatting with Naberius, who seemed to be in a sub-human state and not Cerberus.
　There was no way he could discuss such an incomprehensible matter with his companions.

　I brought my mug to my mouth as if to deceive myself and somehow moved my eyes to the liquor inside.
　My face reflected in the water.


　For some reason, one horn was sprouting from the side of my head.


“----!

　I can't help but take my hand off the mug.
　The mug falls to the tabletop, spilling my drink.

'Oh, come on, what's the matter with you?'

　Alba gives me a worried look.
　I quickly touch my head, but of course I don't have horns.

''I'm sorry.... I'll go back first.

'Oh?　Me?　What's wrong with you, Leme? You're really funny today.

'What?　Now I'm....

　Did you say me, you mean yourself?
　I don't want to stay here any longer, so I leave the bar as if to escape.

　Huh........where is the hotel we were staying at?
　It's the same place I used this morning, but my memory is hazy.

　As I was wandering around, I saw a clothing store.
　This is the first time I've seen this place, but I feel like I've been here before with someone else.

　A beautiful woman with golden hair flashes through my mind for a moment. I can't get a good look at her face.


　The next moment my reflection in the show window was changed to the next moment - the robe of a 【Black Mage】.


''.........!　Nah, what the hell...!

　It's seriously weird.
　I've never been associated with a [Black Mage]. I shouldn't have even worn a costume.

　And yet, I felt much more comfortable than I did in my brave form.

　As I continued to walk away from the place, I wandered into the marketplace.

''Would you like some fruit...!

　A child's voice.
　I turned my attention to the fruit stall - of, beside.

　There was a child selling fruit, laying out a cloth.
　She is a subhuman of a dog, a childish woman in simple clothes.
　She had brown, fluffy hair and dull eyes that were a light green color.
　Her voice and expression were strained with tension.

''Kudzu...?''

Isn't that Leme, the Brave Man of Fire?

　The bald-headed man next to me sounds surprised.

'Oh, yeah, yeah, well,'

Wow!　How did you end up here?　No, more importantly, sign it!

　The man's pressure pushed me to respond to the sign, asking me to keep my voice low.
　I put the hood of my robe on, surprised now that the others hadn't noticed me before.

''........Does that girl work there too?''

Yeah, she's a hardworking girl who's trying to make ends meet.

Well.....

　I crouched down in front of the baby girl and asked, "Can I have one? I call out to him.

'Ha, yes...!

　The childish woman, her ears perked up, hurriedly examines the fruit.
　The expression on her face is so serious that you can't help but relax.

How do you think this.........

Yes, thank you.

　You pay the bill and receive the fruit.

Oh, um...what's the name of the guy?

'What?　Oh, oh, I don't know. We're playing adventurers.

We don't have a video board... sorry.

Ha-ha, no problem. Thanks for the fruit.

Okay. Um, thank you!

　She's a lovely girl, I think.
　I just don't think I'll ever see her again.

　The fruit I bit into somehow tasted nostalgic.

　--I'm..........................

　Why do I feel like I'm about to cry?


　◇


　After that, we continued to capture more and more of the Demon King's Castle.

　The second layer, the necromancer's realm.
　Fortunately, the battle against the 【Living Corpse (Zombie)】 and 【Skeleton Knight (Skeleton)】 did not cause any strange scenes to occur.

　However, in the battle between [Hunter of the Dark Scar] Lerger and [Dead Spirit Leader Brave General] Kimaris, it happened.
　We had a strategy meeting and somehow, we were talking with Lerager and Lily together.

　The third layer, the realm of vampires.
　The feeling of discomfort was terrible here.

　I defeated the vampires, solved the mystery in the pavilion, and faced the floor boss in the underground space.
　[Vampire Queen] Hagenty (,,,,,).
　She was a formidable foe, but I had this intense thought.

　It's not her (,,,,,,).
　The floor boss of the third level is not Hagenti. Such incomprehensible emotions sat there and wouldn't go away from my mind.

　-- 'Reme-san'.

　I heard a voice calling out to me gently, calling out to me, and it made my head hurt.
　My chest didn't feel painful.

　The warmth that arises every time I hear the voice, it quickly disappears and disappears because I can't grasp the identity of the voice.
　I feel like it's very important, but I don't remember getting it.

　The more I progressed through the Demon King's Castle attack, the worse my headache became.

　The fourth layer, the realm of the werewolves.
　Even though they all seemed to look the same, I was able to distinguish between each werewolf. For some reason, I also knew their names.
　The non-existent memory of myself training with [Werewolf Chieftain] Markosias was replayed.

　The fifth layer, the dreamer's realm.
　The dainty dreamers were still distinguishable, too. Furthermore, I knew at a glance who the floor boss was.
　It was a cat-like girl with pink hair. She was called [Demon of Love] Sitely.

　The sixth layer, the realm of aquatic demons.
　I'm no longer surprised that I recognize the mermaids and fishermen.
　It's just my imagination that I know [Sea Monster] Forneus' gentle way of talking and riding.
　[Ruler of the Waters] You must be delusional to know the unexpected side of Wepal.

　The seventh layer, the realm of the sky and trials.
　I feel like I've been transported by the Bird Man and [Phantom Raven] Raum.
　I think he did a good job of solving the riddles made by [Lord Eloquent Thrush] Kaim.

　The eighth layer, the realm of martial arts.
　I've wished all of the dragon people to join hands with me.
　【Kariya Knight】 Fulkas is actually a little girl, and that black armor is a magic tool to board rather than wear.
　She's a foodie, she doesn't talk much, but she also jokes, and she's a strict but gentle master of the sword.

　The ninth layer, the realm of time and space.
　I know the strength of all the demons.
　[Time Demon] Agares has tremendous strength, but that's why he's vulnerable to small children. Especially a little girl.

''d*mn........''

　I was going crazy.
　Information that I couldn't possibly know was in my head.
　Memories that I never experienced are replayed in my brain as if it were normal.

　And yet, when I try to grasp the details, they disappear.
　It's as if I'm trying my best to remember a dream that fades away the moment I wake up.

　I'm in a room at the inn, my head in my hands.

'My head is going to crack open...'

　We're almost ready to capture the impregnable Demon King's Castle.
　Even that aerial party couldn't accomplish this feat.
　We're going to do it and aim even higher.

　Boom, boom, boom. There is a knock at the door.

"Leme...?

　The voice sounded familiar.
　I hurriedly got up and ran to the door.

　When I opened it, I saw the face of my best friend, one I hadn't seen in a long time.

''Fenix...!

It's good to see you, Leme.

　A good friend who woke up ten years ago [Priest] smiles softly.