Khalifa's expression hardened.

'Adolf Sigma. That's what he called himself. After a comprehensive analysis, it's likely that Adolf is the one ruling over Sigma Deus.'
Wait a minute! Because he's never appeared in front of me in all these hundreds of years, you know?
He was terribly upset.
Yeah.
'The mere mention of Miss Khalifa's name upset Adolph terribly. Then it occurred to me, for a moment. He's the same kind as me.
The same kind?　What does that mean?
'No, maybe it's just my imagination. It's just ... well, let's not talk about me. By the look on your face, Khalifa-san, you didn't notice Adolf.
What do you mean?
'To the extent that Khalifa-san was able to notice him, your party wasn't actually going well. And the proof of that is that Mr. Kagetora is dead, I hear.
It's a lie.

　Khalifa sat up to back away violently.

'He said that he had killed her, and he didn't take offense to it. I was surprised to see that he was acting much differently than what I heard from Khalifa. I only thought he was more mild-mannered.
''No way... there's no way Adolf could kill Kagetra. In terms of strength, Kagetra was the strongest among us. 'Besides, Kagetra is Zephyr's brother,' said Khalifa, her tone strengthening. 'We've known each other since childhood, we're from the same town...'
So. That's how badly things were going.
"...but. Khalifa could not control her agitation.
'Other people want other people to be good for them, and they impose on them. They want other people to be nice to them, and they want them to be good to them, even when they don't understand them at all. Character is a subjective value. That's how little you understood Adolf, Mr. Khalifa.
''What do you know about it?'' said Khalifa, giving him a sharp look.
'Nothing.'
..." his brow furrowed.
'Only, Adolph is secretly...'
Stop it!

　Khalifa didn't let him say more than that.
　It was as if he knew what Masamune was going to say.
　Masamune gave a small smile at that.

''What? You knew that, didn't you? You're a bad person too. That's why the dragon's heart was split. Well, it's just one of the possible factors at the moment.
That's not what I'm talking about here.
I won't say anymore. The rest is your problem. No, it's the problem of the three of you. By the way, Kagetra-san was a brave man, as I recall. You can also use the heavenly attribute.
You know me so well.

　Khalifa, who doesn't seem to be settled, replies in frustration.

'Carpent told me about it,'
Yeah.
'So Adolph was more competent than Mr. Kagetola?
I told you. Kagetra was the most powerful.
'You were above the Abyss?　I've heard that Mr. Kagetora doesn't have an abyss.
...eh. What do you mean. What do you mean?
''What do you mean...'' said Masamune, raising an eyebrow. ''I mean, Adolf uses abyssal magic just like me, but Kagetora-san was still better than me. I mean, I'm asking if the Heavenly Attribute outperformed the Abyssal Magic.
'Wait a minute. ...What do you mean Adolf uses the Abyss?　He was a user of earth magic...

　The agitation disappeared from the Khalifa and was replaced by astonishment.
　Masamune couldn't help but sigh at the sight.

'Totally, Khalifa-san really didn't know anything about this, did she?
Can Adolf use the Abyss?
'Yes, sir. He was far more adept at it than I was. He seemed to know a lot more about the abyss. I think that's not a recent development. It must have been since then.
Since when?　Are you trying to tell me that this is from when you were traveling with us?
Otherwise, it doesn't add up.
What do you mean?
I just found out something when I met up with Adolph.

　Masamune once quenched his throat with wine.

''Because it seems that the abyss cannot kill the abyss,''

　Khalifa wondered.

'Adolf didn't use the abyss once in the second half. He does control that funny white water, but that was probably the abyss. I felt some greedy will. But it didn't work for me. As it turned out, my life wasn't threatened when I touched it. But it was the same for the other side. My abyss couldn't kill Adolf. Even though his existence had been reduced by half... well, let's not talk about that. He replaced it with a miscellaneous broadsword.
''Because ... even if magic didn't work, I could kill with a sword,'' muttered Khalifa as she unraveled.
'Yes. That's where it all started to sink in.
Does that make sense?
'I had never seen an abyss other than my own. So there was no way I could have known that an abyss couldn't kill an abyss. Zephyr wasn't going to teach me, you see. But maybe the two of them did try to teach it in their own way.
''........'' her brows furrowed again.
''That's why Xiong gave me swordplay. To me.
Swordplay?
'It's something you'll need, he said. But he didn't tell me why I needed it, and he didn't tell me anything about it. He just couldn't tell me.
Did Adolf get his sword?
Yes, sir. It stung properly. Perhaps it's a common perception among the abyssal users. In the Abyss, an attack wouldn't even result in a bloody wound.
'Well ...' he looked pensive.
''Zephyr and Xiong must have known about it.
Yeah.
'The abyss can sense the abyss, you know. I can sense the abyss of Adolf now.
So, Zephyr.
'You should have known. Zephyr was so proficient in the abyss that he could embody his existence in his armor.
I'm the only one who didn't know...
'One hundred and fifty years ago, Adolf killed Cagetra. He probably killed Zephyr too. That's why he has no body. Those who are tainted by the abyss lose their life span. Because their existence will be enlarged and they will become immortal. And then.
You let Xiaon escape to the dungeon... is that what you're doing?
'Perhaps. But we don't know what happened to Zephyr after that. Or where he is.
The Pleiades.
What is it?
'Pleiades. He's probably in the clutches of an observer.
Observation.... who is that?
It's not about who or what.
'Master Amadeus. 'Do you know any myths?' said Elferise.
'Myth?　What, does Lord Elferise know an observer?
'Of course. It's an ancient myth. Well, it's more or less a fairy tale.
Well, apparently it wasn't a fairy tale.
...I see. That's quite an interesting story.
'Hey,' said Masamune.
Excuse me. To put it simply, an observer is a great being. It is said that the observer watches over not only us, but this world itself. It is said that he is a guardian not only of us, but of this world itself.
It's like a god.
'Interpretations vary. The Pleiades is the garden of the observer. All of us are believed to have been born there.
I'm done with the stink. So, is Zephyr there now?
That's what he said. "The myth wasn't a lie.
''........I see. But if that's the case, why are you in such a place? Come to think of it, Zephyr and Xiong said it was a prison.
'Yes, you told me about that. So I've been thinking about it too. And I came up with one answer.
What is it?
"...those who fall into the abyss lose their freedom.

　Masamune thought about those words for a while. Occasionally he would take a sip of wine to quench his thirst.

'Did Zephyr fall out?' Masamune smiles a little." The expression 'fell' seems to have hit the nail on the head."
I'm serious.
'Yes, sir. 'Of course. 'I'm sorry,' sighed Khalifa.
'Anyway, that's my answer. For now.'
'I don't want to rely on the words of the one who taunted the abyss, though. If you get used to it, it will be dyed. Disobey the will and you will be swallowed up. I know this much. Then what does falling mean, what does it mean to fall?
"Come on. I don't know about that. I'll have to ask Zephyr.
It's a good thing to be caught by a god-like guy, so did he do something wrong.... I'm not sure why Oliver is also being held captive," he said.
You can't help but think about what you don't understand. For that matter, the fact that you took the trouble to call me here means you're planning to go to Sigma Deus, right?
Soon. But I don't think I'll be bringing the Khalifa with me--
I'm coming with you.
Huh..... Well, that's fine, but I didn't mind. I've had the three of them check out the three dwarf brothers. I'll give you a brief explanation later. Alicia, divine the date of the attack.
I understand.
What, fortune telling? Khalifa gives him a questioning look.
'It's just a routine. I try to get Alicia to choose the date of the raid.
Yeah, right. I didn't think you'd resort to fortune telling.
'I'm just relying on Alicia. It takes a lot of luck.
'I'm sorry about this time,' says Alicia, bowing her head.
"No," says Alicia, bowing her head. 'No, it helped a lot to identify Adolf. The heavens are completely on our side.
'Heaven means observer, though,' said Elferise.
'Then it's the heavens other than the observers,' said Elferise. Well, let's just say Zephyr.

　A tense atmosphere seems to envelop them, and then suddenly those who begin to make a congenial tea ceremony.
　Khalifa hides her suspicions in silence.
　He wondered why Masamune was uniting the Jishi's bloodline, but he didn't try to mention it.