We jumped from the fifth level's transference recording stone to the transference recording stone in the camp.

'Reme-sama!　Master Xu!　You are both safe........!

　Maru-san greeted us with an expression of relief.
　.........Well, from Maru-san's point of view, me and Ex-san were asleep, and everyone else had returned once.

''Thank you for your concern.

'Thanks to Leme, I'm back in one piece. Yeah, you'll have to report that to me.

I've received a brief report from someone else but it's been a difficult ordeal.

'Well, yes...'

"You just have to keep your mind strong.

　Black Chick says.

　--Yeah. That's pretty hard to do.

　I'm the only one who can see this guy's form at the moment.
　Spirits can choose what they look like and who they can show it to.

　The mass of light is visible to everyone, but the black chick is only visible to me.
　Even spirit contractors can't see other people's contracted spirits, even if they are spirit contractors.
　Even spirits don't relate to each other unless they're specially aware of it.

''There's a lot of things about the beings you call spirits.''

　That being said, I can't say anything. That's probably so, I'm sure.
　For now, it seems that it's unlikely that the shadow and light spirits will go out of their way to show up and talk to Ex-san and Arthur-san about this guy.

　........I don't intend to hide it, so I'm going to discuss it with them later on.

''Eh, don't you long for secret powers and such?''

　--The Holy Sword is obligated to report to the country........

''The human world is a cramped one, isn't it?''

　--You're free, and you're looking at a world that's cramped.

"Haha, sure. Infinite freedom can be pretty boring.

　--and the original dungeon?

"I enjoyed it. And it helped me to find you.

　I couldn't help but sigh.
　

''Well........the people of the village have sent you to the village as no problem after receiving the diagnosis from the doctors and [White Mage]. Reme-sama, please reassure your family and everyone in the village once.

　Maru-san instructed me to get a carriage for him.

Then I'll give Mr. Leme a--

'Citry's going~. I'm sorry Maru-chan, but I don't want to talk about my dreams.

　In the middle of Mira's words, Sitley raised her hand.
　One hand was raised while the other was held lightly in front of her chest. And one leg was also lightly raised.

''I see. But I too--''

''Mila-sama is quickly breaking through the ordeal, isn't she? I'd like to hear more about it if I could.

But, but...

It's okay, Mila. Reme-kun has a sitter in his pocket.

　Saying that, Sitely-san takes my arm and heads out of the tent.

''Uh ... Mira-san. I'll talk to you when I get back.

Uh... yeah, I understand.

　Mila-san looked frustrated, but she didn't bite off more than that.
　........I think it was because she noticed it too. To Sitry-san's discomfort.

'Do you want to know what this girl's dream is?'

　--You don't have to do that.

I knew you'd say that.

　The sound of happy laughter.
　Could it be that it's always been like this?

'No way. I'm not going to peek into the bathroom or the toilet.'

　...........

'I'll watch over you like all the other spirits in the future.

　If you think about it, the spirit contractor is being watched over by the spirit for his life, so isn't there such a thing as private time in the full sense of the word?
　Maybe they don't show up unless they are called upon to make humans aware of it.

　Instead of wanting to be involved, the spirit wants to see. The life of a human of his or her choosing.
　They will sign up to help you if you can make that person's life more interesting by lending them power.

''Yes, I gave you the holy sword to make your life more interesting too, yes.''

Not as much as Mila, but I was worried about you, okay?　Leme, you're a late riser.

　Mr. Citry says with a twitch of his lips.
　I cut off the conversation with the genie and turn my attention back to Citry-san.

'I'm sorry, I didn't mean to worry you,'

Yeah. Can't you just thank me for that?

　Citry-san gives a teasing smile to her upward glance.

''...... Thank you for your concern.

Leme, you're so obedient and sweet.

Haha.....

　We called out to Gosha and then climbed into the carriage.
　After riding off, we resume our conversation.

　Before that, I remind the spirits not to listen to this conversation.

"Well, I know everything about her dreams and what she's been thinking in her mind.

　--Still, no. I don't like to eavesdrop on things.

"...mmmm. "Hmm, it's good to see you, buddy," I'm going to say to you someday.

　When I say that in a deliberate tone of voice, the black chick flutters away.
　I don't know if that stunt is necessary, but I'll believe you haven't heard it.

'Wasn't it hard for you to ... get out of your dream?'

　I knew this was going to be a topic. I expected it, I should say.
　Because Citry-san has been acting a little strange since she broke through the ordeal.

　Besides, her breaking through the ordeal was a little before me.
　Unlike the four of us who broke through early with Mr. Fulkus, Mr. Arthur, Mr. Mira and Mr. Merlin, we were in a dream in our own right.

''Yes, that's right. In my case........I spent about ten years there. It was so comfortable that I couldn't get out of it for a long period of time. After the capture of the Demon King's Castle, though, it wasn't so much. Oh, I was an adventurer in my dreams, too.

　By the way, even though I spent ten years in the dream, it was only a few hours after I entered the fifth layer when I went outside.

''I can understand. You're Reme-kun, right? You're an adventurer, and you must have wanted to be a brave man.

　Fleetingly, Citry-san smiles.
　She is different from her usual, always conscious of her cuteness.
　In places, something peeks through.

'We've talked about Sitrie before, haven't we?

　She is a winged, small panther sub-beast. She has the ability to transform, and her ability to recreate even the abilities of her targets. You can't do everything, but her abilities are just as shown in the raid battle.
　She is a talented person worthy of being in charge of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon King's Castle.

　She has always been a lover of cute things. She loves the appearance of a dream demon, and that's what she always looks like.

''You told me before, right?

'You see, Citry is a dreamer from the beginning. Citry just wanted to be pretty and had a good life. Models, idols, and actors.

　It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.
　However, for example, 【White Mage】can heal wounds, so if you're in the medical field, you're in a position to pull a lot of strings.

　I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
　You can't crush it. Even the almost only option of being an adventurer is a painful experience even if you advance.

　In that respect, the dream demons have difficulty finding employment on a race-by-race basis.
　This is because it's hard for the average person to determine whether their charms are inherent or amplified by fascination (charms).

　Of course, it's illegal, and good dreamers don't do that, and there's no way to prevent it....
　Since there are all kinds of species, it's easier to avoid the Dream Demons from the start.

　There aren't many jobs that the beautiful looking, race-untrustworthy dreamers can choose from.
　The job you mentioned exists in reality, but it is difficult for a dreamer to become one even if he or she wanted to.

''It was really fun...''

　She couldn't tell anyone else.
　In terms of being trapped in the dream, Ex-san is there too, but that's probably because I'm a friend.
　When it came to the other four people, they instantly slipped away from the allure of the dream.

　I don't think Xu-san and Sitri-san are weak at heart.
　Even I............................I was praised by that master for having a strong heart.
　Besides, the spirit also said that.

　You just have to keep your mind strong.
　The strength of the mind is not fixed, it goes up and down.
　

'How did you ... get back to ...?'

"Hmmm, the thing is. There was a raiding match on the video board (TV). Everyone else was doing their best except Sitly. See, Lou was on that time, too. With Reme-kun's ring.

Yeah.

　My real life self struggled to remind me of reality in my dreams somehow.
　The video board (TV) image is probably the result of Citrie's efforts to live a life unrelated to the Demon King's Castle.

'Then I thought. I have everything I wanted, but the most important thing isn't here.

　She met the demon king Mr. Lucy and hired him as a demon.
　Everything she got there was not in her ideal world. Because she hadn't become a demon, she hadn't become a demon.

'Oh I was the same way.

'Yeah, but it was a nice dream I didn't feel like I didn't want it like everyone else...'

　Mr. Sitley puts his head on my shoulder with a thump.

"Well, you know...

'The reality of getting everything you wanted and everything that's important to you... isn't that the reality...?

　I know what she's going to say. I think I know what she means.　

It's hard because some of the people I've met are only there because they didn't get what they wanted.

　I wanted to be a brave man.
　But because of the reality of not being able to become one, there are people I could meet.
　Even if you can't get what you wanted in life, you can still do what's important to you.

Hmmm. Huh. Sytry thinks so too. Sitri isn't pretty enough to be her real self, but she'd rather not be able to see Lou. So I guess that's why I came back.

　She's a strong-minded person, after all.

''I was also depressed when I became a [Black Mage], but I was happy to join the Demon King's Castle and become friends with Sitry-san.

　Mr. Citry looked up and glared at me cutely.

'That's about it, Reme-kun,'

Yeah.

Oh, man, you are such a good judge of character. Oh, man.

Well....

'But not this time. But this time it's okay, because it's the same for Citry. The reality (this one) is better.

　Then Citry smiled at that and smiled.

'But it was a good dream! 'Ahh,'

　This time he rests his head in my lap.

'...Did you want to be an idol?

Aren't idols pretty?　Citry likes to be cute. ........Well, even real-life idols have a lot of difficulties, but I still admire the things I admire.



Oh, no, Yumemma is the cutest girl in the world.

　Mr. Citry answered immediately.
　I nodded quietly at that too clear answer.

'I see, then it can't be helped.

Hey.

　That's how our ordeal ended, with or without affecting the minds of the challengers.
　I heard that we're still accepting challengers, but the investigative team will get together to not go to the fifth level.

'Are you done talking?'

　We arrived in the village almost at the same time as the black chick came back.
　When I showed up at the gathering place, I was hugged by Canary-san.

''Leme...!　I was worried about you because you were late...!

I'm sorry... thank you. I'll be fine.

　I've talked to Mr. Hawk and his parents.

　Mr. Canary looked at Mr. Sitley and said, "Cute! He shouted, "You're cute, too, Sitri. Reme-kun's big sister? 'Yes!　I'm Leme's sister! We had a conversation of sorts, and Hawk scolded me for not lying to him.

　Everyone in the village thanked me - surprisingly, there were three of them - and since everyone, including me, had returned, we decided to disperse for the moment.

　Then everyone leaves the meeting place and looks up at the sky.
　Because for a moment the village was covered by a large shadow, even though the sun was out.
　Soon it cleared up, but we were surprised by what it was.

　It was a dragon.

　Some of us almost panic, but I shout out to reassure them.

'It's okay!　Because that's not a wild dragon!

　The dragon's belly was draped with a cloth to indicate affiliation.
　It's so that those on the ground can be easily identified.

　--It's the "Dragon Express".

　It is famous for being able to carry huge amounts of cargo at once and quickly.
　Also, high-ranking adventurers will sometimes pay each other's party for transportation.

　But why would a dragon be in this place........
　If it's a route that's often used, it's strange that everyone in the village is surprised.......I haven't heard that Maru-san asked for it.

　Hm?

　As I was looking at the sky, I noticed something.
　A dot in the sky.
　No, something, a thing. No, that is - a person?

Uh-oh!

　What a lovely scream.
　Apparently, two people are falling, it seems.

　One of them is a man, and a woman as well, clinging to his back.

　Or rather, the man was - 【Brave Man of Fire】 Fenix.

　--What are you doing?

　That guy spewed fire and slowed down, and landed on the ground, killing the impact perfectly.

　The one who fell off that guy's back in a puff was [Hunter] Lily.
　Fenix looks at everyone after helping Lily up.

''Everyone............Oh, Reme!　You're safe!

　I looked at Mr. Canary.

'I texted her. But that girl, phew, she's riding a dragon.

　With that, Mr. Canary ran out and hugged his son.
　.........No, well, it's my hometown. Fenix would have a right to know.
　I'm sure he was filming an attack video in the distance, so he jumped on the dragon after work.

''He of the [Priest]?''

　The black chick says something like that.

'No, I'm a brave man,'

　A small murmur.
　After all, that's more suitable for Fenix.
　I move closer to my best friend.

'You're late coming.'

　When I said that, he pouted, then laughed.

'I'm still in a hurry to get here.

　Yes.
　We looked at each other and laughed.