"Lisana Rickman - indeed, Lisa was called that.

'Maricius of the Ninay Bureau tribe said. He said it was the only disgrace to Mr. Lucius that he had brought Lisa back... what do you mean by bringing her back?　I mean.....

　I continued to talk, letting my thoughts run through my mind.

'So, if you're saying that this Rickman family was destroyed, then Lucius-san was involved in it or something of that sort?

　Then Lucius-san lightly lifted the corner of his left mouth and gave a faint smile.

'Even if it's appropriate, you'll say it, right?　Masamune-kun has just unconsciously read my emotions and considered them with reference to them. And in answer to that question let's just say that's a bit different.

　What a mistake.

"But I suppose it would fall under your definition of 'that sort of thing'. I brought the infant Lysana back from the burning ruins of Rickman's house when she was just dying. I certainly had something to do with it. And ... and ... well ... it could be said that it was the beginning.

The beginning?

　But Lucius interrupted, "Let's go back to the first question.

'So, that magic of Lisana's is not abyssal magic, that's what I mean.

　Then Lucius-san got up from his seat and went to the world mirror again.
　But the way he did so, it seemed to me that he was running away from the conversation, if anything.
　But would this man be so blatant?

　I rested my elbows on the table, piecing together those few answers and thinking deeply, trying to see the whole picture.
　But there was still only that question of what the Rickman clan was.
　Their magic power was as strong as the demon race, and their knowledge of magic was deep. A family of great mages.......but that's not enough to know.

The answer is surprisingly simple. Everything has a meaning and a reason.

　Perhaps sensing my emotions, Lucius-san suddenly tells me such an unintelligible thing.
　But for some reason Lucius-san, who had told me to ask him anything just now, turns to the mirror and doesn't try to answer clearly.
　Perhaps--.

Is that something you don't want to answer?

''Or as Maricias said. Of course I don't harbor the slightest regret for rescuing Lisa and bringing her back. But this is certainly a disgrace to me....

I don't know why I wouldn't want to say it.

Because it's all about the Toa.

What?

　The answer is a sudden revelation.
　But what the hell does it have to do with anything?

'I'm going to tell you everything. I've thought it over and decided to do so. I've already told Elektra that I'm going to tell you. I've already told Elektra that I will tell you about the Toa, and about the demon kingdom. And ... about my mistake.

"My mistake...

　But Lucius said that he had no regrets about bringing Lisa back.

''Let's leave it at that for today...''

　But then Mr. Lucius, who was supposed to have said that he would tell them everything, tried to force the conversation to end.

'What?　But you haven't heard the story yet.　If it has anything to do with Toa, it's the most important thing to me!

　But Lucius-san doesn't turn around and won't face me.

'I need some time...'

Time?　What time is it?　You've decided to tell me, haven't you?

Time to get ready...

　I'm not ready for this - Lucius-san said that.

　But I had a feeling that it was only a matter of time for me.
　This person is a Demon King, but inside, he's not a hard-headed person who can be called a Demon King.
　Doesn't this person himself want to be saved somewhere?　I used to feel that way, too.

　But if I don't ask, he doesn't talk, and if I do, he slurs his words. It's just the way it is. It's just a matter of time, I think, but I probably won't be talking to him today.
　I sigh, and I decide to take it in stride.

'I understand. For now, I'm glad to know that Lisa-san has nothing to do with the abyss, at least. I also found out that Lisa-san is the strongest person in the human world, the sole survivor of a clan called Rickman or something. I'm glad to know that. To some extent, my doubts have been cleared up.

I'm not the only one.

　At that moment, Lucius-san suddenly muttered, interrupting my words.

''Eh?''

I'm not the only survivor.

That means...

　I somehow got the feeling that that was, I mean, Lucius's story that he didn't want to tell (,,,,,,,).

'I mean, besides Lisa, are there other members of the Rickman family?

'I have no interest in humans. But I'm not ignorant; I've always been gathering information. As far as I know, there are currently five members of Rickman's bloodline, including Lisa.

Five?

　There are four more of them?

That means we're in a magical land, right?

　But Mr. Lucius doesn't answer that question from me.

'Mr Lucius?'

You know the man.

What, I know? .....

　"You know who"?　

'That was probably a mistake I made but I didn't know. I didn't know there were any other survivors besides Lisa.

'Then I guess it can't be helped. I mean, what on earth is Lucius-san regretting?　If you're saying that someone from the same family as Lisa is still alive, that makes you happy, doesn't it?

　But Mr. Lucius doesn't talk about the reason for his feelings of ... regret.

'When I ... learned of his existence, he had already come into the world. I didn't have any regrets at the time. I was happy, and I was willing to let Lisa meet him, I thought. But now all I can think of is the regret that it was too late, that if I had found him then, maybe none of this would have happened.

　Lucius-san's mind, which should have been so calm and unemotional, became emotional and disturbed when he found out, and I had stopped sensing it.

''Who on earth are you talking about?''

　I had no idea.

"His name is...



o



　--Rasthausen, the royal capital.

　Due to the Empire's two attacks, the country no longer has the peaceful atmosphere it had before.
　The air was filled with tension and fear that the Empire would appear again.

　-- that's the defensive wall located above the main gate.
　Evenly spaced guards gazed out over the plain from there, watching the movements of all who came to this country.

''Do not neglect the guards. ─ Do not neglect the guards, the Empire may appear at any time. They won't keep us guessing, will they?　Remember, the moment you let your guard down, he's going to show up, so keep that in mind.

　The wall surrounding the capital. The thirty-six degree wall protected the country.

　And the White King's Knights. The head of the group - Reinhard Rickman - had personally told all the guards that the security was to be strengthened and was walking on the defensive wall.

　And as Reinhardt's figure moved away, the guards started talking in vain again, as usual.
　Here were two more guards who had started wasting their time talking.

''Reinhardt-sama is.......cool, right?''

Well, you're the White King's Knight Commander, isn't that right?

That's not a good enough reason, is it?

What?

'Then what?　Doesn't look good enough to be a grand master?　Then that means I can be me, right?

What are you talking about?　Of course you can't, can you?　After all, you're a hardcore dork~

'Keh!

　Then, as the ridiculed guards remembered, there it was.

Speaking of which, wasn't Mr. Reinhardt's surname "Rickman"?

　And I continue to talk in vain.

'You don't think that's that Rickman, do you?

"The Rickman?"　What's that?

'So that Rickman guy, right?　Don't you know that?　Rickman's family... well, you heard that a lot when you were little.　"When you meet Rickman, you have to cover your hands and put your head down?"

"...yeah, that Rickman?　How could I do that?　When the hell do you think you're talking to me?　I mean, how young do you think he is?　He's the wrong guy. And there are plenty of people with the same name. I just happened to come by.

How old is that guy anyway?　You look pretty young, but...

You're right about the looks, right?　From what I've heard, he ended up in this country with a bunch of refugees, and that's how he got here.　That was roughly 20 years ago now or something...

'Twenty years ago... so you're over twenty years old...'

What do you think?　There's no way she's a teenager for all intents and purposes. I mean, you can't always worry about such things--

　At that time, the siren of the 《Emergency Call》 sounded throughout the royal capital.
　The two of them looked up at the sky and looked over the city from the defensive wall to see what was going on.

　It meant a compulsory summons order to all the kingdom knights.
　And this siren was used for the first time since this country raised peace to the world, and it was an unusual one.

　--and in front of the Royal Palace.
　At the bottom of the grand staircase leading to the Royal Palace -- the square. The knights of the kingdom assembled indoors.
　The White King's Knights were there, and of course Sierra was there as well.

''I'm very sorry for the sudden summons,''

　The reason for the convocation was announced in person by King Arnold.

'It is sudden and surprising to all of you, and you will be surprised at what has happened. I am sorry about that.

　Then the king finished his short preamble and told him bluntly.

'A White King's Knight. It is hereby announced that Raid Black has been deported.

　The news is that the Raid has already been deported and is no longer in King's Landing.

''The White King's Knights, by consensus, have made my final decision.

　One person, a raider who was unusually aggressive towards the war and was becoming violent, was forced to leave the country.
　Arnold told this to the kingdom knights and showed his understanding of those gathered.
　And on this day, Arnold made public the names and appearances of all the White King's knights who had not been hidden but had not been revealed until then.

　This includes a declaration to the effect that the White King's Knights assembled here have no will for war.
　And those who were planning to make war were half-heartedly condemned to deportation like the raiders.
　But the people are unaware of it.
　It's the Kingdom Knights who are gathering.
　-- that was the current state of the country.

　In other words, for the first time, the idea of being in favor of the war in the entire Kingdom Knights was being born.
　Arnold announced the raid's banishment here as a deterrent.

'There is no such thing as treason. I will be watching you at all times!　There can't be a war!　Once it has been dealt with, there is no turning back. The symbols of peace will fall away, and the Eternal Peace that kings have built up over so long a period of time and that has been recognized even by other nations will disappear. When that happens, there will be no peace in this country ever again.

　King Arnold stared at all the knights gathered there and prefaced his question with, "I ask you once again," "Do you still want war? I asked.

　His eyes were terrific, and they were so terrific that they were in awe of them.