It's not that I really took Elektra's suggestion, but I decided to go into town again with Toa.

　I wanted to climb that tree myself, and I thought it would be a good distraction for Toa as well.

　We decided to meet in front of the entrance, as Toa would have various preparations to make, and I walked around the large mansion alone, looking for Sufilia and Nem.

　By the way, it's a little late to be talking about this, but I don't see any maids in this mansion as I've heard from Toa.
　My guess is that only Toa's family is living here.

　I do see Lisa-san occasionally, but she's the only one I see.
　There must have been other maids besides Lisa-san, and more importantly, Toa had said so.
　Did they use Toa's disappearance as an opportunity to dismiss all the maids?

　According to Toa, they were all people who didn't talk to me much, perhaps out of concern for me.
　At the time, Toa had only Lisa and a pixie he hadn't seen yet to talk to, but... well, I don't really care.
　I don't like crowds of people, and I still feel calmer in a lonely place like this.

　Thinking about this, I walk incessantly down the corridor.
　And then I realize that I've come to a certain large door.

　It was a gorgeous door with a variety of flowers and mistletoe on it...well, I didn't care about the exterior.
　I opened that door.

　It's not that they don't tell you not to enter this room or anything like that, so it won't be much of a problem wherever you go.
　And when I looked inside, there was...

Books? .....

　--this was also a large and spacious library.

　 There must be at least ten floors or more.
　And a spiral staircase is provided in the center of the room. Would they use these stairs to go up?

　I smiled at the stairs elsewhere, at the amount of books in this vast room, which was very different from the library and forbidden stacks in Heilkwaite, and at the sight of this vast room.

'Master Masamune!'

　Then I heard a voice from somewhere.
　I immediately recognized it as Sufilia's voice, "Hmm, Sufilia? I reply.

'Yes, it's Sufilia!

　And with that voice, I found Sufilia peeking out of the second floor.

　I walked up the spiral staircase to Sufilia, who was waiting for me with a number of books in hand.
　Sufilia blushed as soon as she came face to face with me. Apparently, she doesn't like to be seen here buried under so many books.

''What are you doing here?''

I'm learning.

Study? .....

　Studying is hard work. But what is it that we are studying?

'....I was studying about magic tools.

　Sufilia replies as if she had read my mind.

　Sufiria, despite her appearance, has a technology to create a magic tool called the "Trifal".
　It is said that the magical tools created by this technology will be incomparably superior to others.
　Her hometown of Artemias was even founded on this trifall alone.

　But now that Artemias is gone, only Sufilia can use this technology.

What on earth is such a Sufiria studying?　You don't have anything more to learn about magic tools, do you?

'No way!　It's true that the Trifal is a superior technology, and if it were known that I'm still alive and able to handle it, it would probably cause a war on its own. But--

What--?

　I've never heard of it. Is that the kind of technology you're talking about, Tri-Far?
　But if you think about it, it's the world's largest ... the continent's largest magic tool technology.
　Shouldn't it be?

Oh, yeah.

　Then I remember my requirements and explain to the Sufiria that I'd like to go into town.

'I ... I don't want to.

'What? .....

　That Sufilia refused my invitation........

　It's not that I was being arrogant.
　It's not like she was looking at the Sufiria from a superior perspective, like she would follow me if I asked her out or something.
　But.........do you want to go?

Excuse me I still have a few more things I need to look into.

Is it about a grimoire?

'Yes. I have a few things I want to make. It's something I may need in the future.

　Sufiria says something meaningful.
　"Necessary", does that mean we need it for the journey ahead of us?
　But I wasn't interested and didn't ask any more questions.

'Hmmm ... what's wrong with that?　It's like he's giving you a lot to think about.　But that's okay, right?　Only Sufilia doesn't have to be so preoccupied?

''That's ... my line. Masamune-sama is thinking a little too much on her own.

　For some reason, Sufilia suddenly started to blame me for what happened.
　I somehow couldn't say it back, and I was forced to listen to Sufilia's sermon on the flow.

''I can understand Masamne-sama's feelings if I watch from the side. I've only been here for a short time, but after meeting Toa's parents and seeing her reactions and her life here, I have some thoughts.

　I thought I just came to call for Sufilia for a bit but today Sufilia talks awfully well.

''She's only been protected until now, she can't understand how Masamne-sama feels. She won't understand that pain either........

Well you never know.

　I never said to Sufilia that I was in pain.
　But if that's what Sufilia thinks, I'm not going to deny it.

'Because the Toa don't know about my past. I don't think that Sufiria is either.　You don't know what kind of guy I was before I was summoned to this world, or what I was always thinking and worrying about, do you?　But I'll get to that in time.

It's me!　Just tell me and I'll understand!

'What? .....

　Suddenly, Sufilia shouted.
　It's a strong word, as if it were an appeal.
　But her expression appears to be sorrowful.

''No ... it's nothing.''

　But Sufilia immediately stopped talking, "Nothing."

''Well, what is it?　I knew it. You've got a lot on your mind, don't you?　Sorry.....

No, that's not what I'm saying...

I'm not worried about it. I feel good every day now that I've been able to come to the Devil's Land, and besides, this time when I can be with everyone all the time, compared to my daily life before I came to this world, it's already incomparable!

　I say, and show Sufilia a smile as I say this. But she would see right through it.
　I knew that.

''Happiness... no, I'm not, I'm not going to say anything more, if that's what Masamune-sama wants to say.

　See? He sees through me. The way you say "I wish to say" is proof of that.
　At least you know that he doesn't mean it.

　In the beginning, Sufiria and I had similar thoughts. That's why it's hard to fake it.
　I'm sure you know that Sufilia herself has thoughts that are close to mine, so she must have noticed something about me, at least in some small way.

''I see........''

　I couldn't fool myself and finally stopped making up laughs.

'The Toa would like to see a happy Masamne-sama. The same is true for me. But I don't want to see Masamune smile and lie. In front of me... please don't lie to me.

"I'm not lying. I'm always honest in front of everyone...

"...I can accept anything. In the first place, this life already belongs to Masamune-sama.

'That's not true. The fact that Sufilia is alive now is the result of her choices. It's true that I helped Sufilia at that time, even against Zeke's words and the principles of that organization. But it was Sufilia who made it so.

In any case, it was Masamune who saved you...

　I turn my back on the Sufiria there.

"I'm not lying. I can tell you that.

　I couldn't continue this conversation any longer.

　But ... I know what Sufilia is trying to say. No, I'm not sure.
　My cowardly speculation is constantly wavering.
　Maybe I can't really rely on such thoughts........

'I'll be back soon.'

Just one question.

　At that moment, Sufilia murmurs to my back.
　It's a quiet question but still powerful.　

''.......What?''

　I was trying to escape before I heard that question for some reason.
　It's not like I knew what I was going to be asked........

''It was still........before the competition started. At that time, the qualifying round hadn't even started yet.

Hmm?　What are you talking about? --

It's been a long time since...

　When I questioned and asked a question, Sufilia covered my question with words.

''Since those days.......Masamune-sama used to go out of the academy a lot. At first I thought that she was going to Qatar with Patrick, as usual, to visit him. But I was told by Patrick himself that he didn't know. Where and what were you doing back then?

....

I have not yet been informed of how the red garment was made or how you came to know Enuma San...

'Didn't you tell him?　But I don't need to tell you that, do I?　I didn't want the brave men of Grayberg to find out who I was, so I made clothes and a mask. Francesca told me that a terrific craftsman is in Enumasan. But what the hell do you do with such trivial stories?

Why ... was it hidden from you?

I'm not hiding it. I just didn't happen to mention it.

'You said you wouldn't lie.　Since that time, Master Masamune was already nervous about leaving Toa's side. If Toa was not in the room, he would ask Nem or me for Toa's whereabouts, and even if I asked him where he was, he wouldn't be convinced without knowing the exact location of the Toa with his magic detection, just in case....

　I didn't know you were watching that much....

I had seen Masamune-sama repeatedly leaving the school and going out somewhere without saying a word. If Masamune-sama didn't notice it, it was because of this.

　I turned back to Sufilia for a moment.
　Then, a large piece of cloak was draped over the Sufilia's hand that was gently held forward.

''Cognitive Inhibition?''

'It's a try-foul. It completely shuts off magic.

I see.

　When did you get that thing........
　I quickly returned to avert my gaze.

'Whatever the reason, it's clothes you'll be wearing for some time to come. It's a progress observation, that's the least you can do, right?

　In response, Sufilia was silent for a while, and then slowly and quietly opened her mouth.

''Is that the truth, Masamune-sama?　No lies, and yet you say so?

I'm not going to say it's true.

　That was ... the best I could do right now.

'Masamune-sama........'

But I'm not lying. I just don't talk about it. One of these days I'll tell you again.

　There was a long silence for a while. I waited for Sufilia's next words.

　I didn't think anyone or anything noticed.
　Neither Toa nor Nem even questioned it.

　But Sufilia..........................how far do you realize?

I understand.

　Then the voice of the Sufiria is heard.

''I........have been waiting for you for a long time. Masamne-sama ... whatever you are ...

Thank you.

　I slowly stepped forward and left the place with my back to Sufilia.
　Then I went down the stairs.

　All the while, my mind was so blank that I could clearly hear my breathing and the beat of this heart.

　Whether it was the right thing to say or not I found myself asking myself as I opened the door to the storeroom.
　But I still couldn't talk, and I closed the door as it was.

　I didn't look back at Sufilia until I left the stacks.